The Asian markets maintained their momentum through the day and ended all in green on Monday, with some indices registering gains of over half a percent. Chinese market rose for the fourth straight session, as a rally in metals prices lifted material stocks. Seoul shares too edged higher in cautious trade on reports that South Korean prosecutors plan to question Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader again over bribery allegations this week. The yen weakened Monday after the S&P 500 Index climbed to a record high on Friday lifting the stocks higher. Japanese stocks also gained after Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump refrained from arguing about currency levels during the Japanese prime minister’s two-day US visit. Meanwhile, data showed Japan’s economy continued on a moderate growth path during the final quarter of 2016, driven by rising exports and business investment.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,216.84 | 20.14 | 0.63 |
Hang Seng | 23,710.98 | 136.00 | 0.58 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,409.56 | 37.89 | 0.71 |
KLSE Composite | 1,710.24 | 11.30 | 0.67 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,459.15 | 80.22 | 0.41 |
Straits Times | 3,111.63 | 11.24 | 0.36 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,078.65 | 3.57 | 0.17 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,710.32 | 44.73 | 0.46 |