Asian equity markets ended mostly in green on Wednesday, with positive data out of Japan and South Korea, as well as overnight gains in the US on optimism for economic growth supporting underlying sentiment. Japanese shares rose sharply amid a broad-based rally across all sectors after official data showed Japan's exports rose for the first time in 15 months in December, helping Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to revive the economy. Further, Chinese shares ended higher despite the country's central bank increasing interest rates on medium-term loans ahead of Lunar New Year public holidays.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,149.55 | 7.00 | 0.22 |
Hang Seng | 23,049.12 | 99.26 | 0.43 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,293.78 | 1.69 | 0.03 |
KLSE Composite | 1,683.93 | 3.24 | 0.19 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,057.50 | 269.51 | 1.43 |
Straits Times | 3,039.94 | -2.01 | -0.07 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,066.94 | 1.18 | 0.06 |
Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |