Asian equity indices exhibited a mixed close on last trading day of the week as traders turned cautious ahead of the all important jobs data from the world’s biggest economy. However, traders’ sentiments were supported by encouraging services sector data out of China. The Chinese service sector expanded at the fastest pace in six months in April, easing concerns over the slowdown of the world's second largest economy amid poor manufacturing performance. The headline HSBC business activity index rose to a six-month high of 54.1 in April from 53.3 in March. The index reading above 50 indicates expansion of the sector and a reading below 50 suggests contraction. The improvement was supported by the growth in new orders, which was the strongest in ten months.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong shares slipped by over half a percent, with Chinese property developers weak after the biggest player by sales posted its first monthly sales decline. Stock markets in Japan remained closed for the trade on Friday on account of Greenery day.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,452.01 | 11.93 | 0.49 |
Hang Seng | 21,086.00 | -163.53 | -0.77 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,216.68 | -7.32 | -0.17 |
KLSE Composite | 1,591.04 | 7.87 | 0.50 |
Straits Times | 2,990.59 | -10.35 | -0.34 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,989.15 | -5.96 | -0.30 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,700.95 | 41.42 | 0.54 |
Nikkei 225 | -- | -- | -- |