Asian equity markets ended mostly higher on Monday, despite prospects of Fed rate hike this month. On Friday, Fed chair Janet Yellen said the central bank is set to raise rates at the next meeting on March 14-15 if jobs and inflation remains firm. Chinese stocks ended higher as technology shares jumped after Premier Li Keqiang identified innovation as a key part of the economy's restructuring at the opening of the annual meeting of the country's parliament. A flood of news from the opening of the National People's Congress (NPC) meeting over the weekend was interpreted by investors as positive, despite a cut in China's economic growth target this year to around 6.5 percent, from a range of 6.5-7 percent in 2016. Meanwhile, Japanese shares fell in thin trade as the yen firmed up and as global geopolitical tensions rose after North Korea fired four missiles, three of which landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,233.87 | 15.55 | 0.48 |
Hang Seng | 23,596.28 | 43.56 | 0.18 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,409.82 | 18.60 | 0.35 |
KLSE Composite | 1,727.36 | 18.98 | 1.11 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,379.14 | -90.03 | -0.46 |
Straits Times | 3,121.51 | -0.83 | -0.03 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,081.36 | 2.61 | 0.13 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,682.63 | 34.42 | 0.36 |