Asian made a mixed closing on Friday due to escalating geopolitical worries after the US bombed a Syrian regime target for the first time since the country's civil war began in 2011, in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians. Also, investors awaited cues from the meeting between leaders of the world's two biggest economies and the US employment report slated for release later in the day. A statement from the White House said that President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss global, regional and bilateral issues of mutual concern. Meanwhile, Chinese stocks ended higher, led by the Shanghai benchmark closing at a 15-month high, with risk appetite lifted by Beijing's decision to launch a new economic zone in Hebei province.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,286.62 | 5.61 | 0.17 |
Hang Seng | 24,267.30 | -6.42 | -0.03 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,653.49 | -26.75 | -0.47 |
KLSE Composite | 1,741.72 | 2.16 | 0.12 |
Nikkei 225 | 18,664.63 | 67.57 | 0.36 |
Straits Times | 3,177.27 | 1.68 | 0.05 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,151.73 | -1.02 | -0.05 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,873.37 | -24.43 | -0.25 |