Asian equity markets ended mostly lower on Tuesday ahead of Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen's testimony before Congress today and tomorrow. Investors are waiting to see whether Yellen will offer clues to the timing of the next interest-rate increase amid signs of inflation steadily firming up. Japanese shares ended in the red after the yen strengthened on news that Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned over revelations that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. Meanwhile, Chinese shares ended flat after data showed China's consumer price inflation accelerated to a 32-month high in January and producer prices climbed at the fastest pace since 2011, reinforcing market expectations the central bank will continue with monetary-tightening policies
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,217.93 | 1.09 | 0.03 |
Hang Seng | 23,703.01 | -7.97 | -0.03 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,380.67 | -28.89 | -0.53 |
KLSE Composite | 1,708.90 | -1.34 | -0.08 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,238.98 | -220.17 | -1.13 |
Straits Times | 3,072.47 | -39.16 | -1.26 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,074.57 | -4.08 | -0.20 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,718.78 | 8.46 | 0.09 |