Asian equity markets ended in red on Monday, with Japanese shares slumping as the yen remained stronger against rivals on ‘hard Brexit’ fears and official data showing Japan's core machinery orders falling in November at their fastest pace in seven months. Private-sector machinery orders, excluding volatile ones for ships and those from electric power companies, fell a seasonally adjusted 5.1 percent in November from the previous month, reversing a 4.1 percent rise in the previous month. Chinese shares fell, led by tech stocks as investors grew gloomy about 2017 prospects following comments by the premier and official estimates suggesting slowing economic growth in big cities. Premier Li Keqiang said China's economy will face more pressure and problems in 2017, with changes in global politics and challenges to economic rules adding to uncertainty. Meanwhile, investors also looked forward to US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday for any clarity on his economic plans, with the Obama administration urging Trump to ‘reach out’ to the growing faction of House Democrats who have pledged to boycott the ceremony after revelations of Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,102.69 | -10.07 | -0.32 |
Hang Seng | 22,718.15 | -219.23 | -0.96 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,270.01 | -2.97 | -0.06 |
KLSE Composite | 1,658.84 | -13.66 | -0.82 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,095.24 | -192.04 | -1.00 |
Straits Times | 3,013.12 | -11.95 | -0.40 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,064.17 | -12.62 | -0.61 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,292.33 | -86.50 | -0.92 |