Asian equity markets ended mostly lower on Friday after a mixed session on Wall Street overnight. With oil prices caught in a range on concerns over growing US crude production and the yen strengthening, investors opted to stay on the sidelines ahead of the weekend. The arrest of Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong for bribery, embezzlement and perjury in connection to a massive corruption scandal also hurt regional sentiment. Japanese shares fell as the yen gained ground amid the G20 gathering in the German city of Bonn. Further, Chinese and Hong Kong shares ended lower as investors took profits on resources shares, but losses were checked by strength in Chinese brokerage shares after authorities relaxed some rules on stock index futures trading.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,202.08 | -27.54 | -0.85 |
Hang Seng | 24,033.74 | -73.96 | -0.31 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,350.93 | -27.07 | -0.50 |
KLSE Composite | 1,707.68 | 0.09 | 0.01 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,234.62 | -112.91 | -0.58 |
Straits Times | 3,107.65 | 10.96 | 0.35 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,080.58 | -1.26 | -0.06 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,759.76 | -11.49 | -0.12 |