Asian equity markets made a mixed closing on Monday as a weaker yen and higher oil prices helped offset worries over rising geopolitical tensions and weaker than expected US jobs data. Latest employment report stated that the US economy created just 98,000 new jobs in March, well below the 185,000 consensus figure that was forecast. The unemployment rate, however, fell to 4.5% from 4.7% as the number of people who found work outstripped the labor force. Japanese shares ended higher as the dollar rose for a third day against the yen after comments from a top Federal Reserve official reinforcing the central bank's commitment to interest rate hikes. Meanwhile, Chinese stocks fell after the country's chief insurance regulator came under investigation by its anti-corruption agency.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,269.39 | -17.22 | -0.52 |
Hang Seng | 24,262.18 | -5.12 | -0.02 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,644.30 | -9.19 | -0.16 |
KLSE Composite | 1,739.52 | -2.20 | -0.13 |
Nikkei 225 | 18,797.88 | 133.25 | 0.71 |
Straits Times | 3,181.45 | 4.18 | 0.13 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,133.32 | -18.41 | -0.86 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,882.54 | 9.17 | 0.09 |