Asian equity markets ended mostly in red on Tuesday as rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Korean peninsula as well as uncertainty over the French election kept investors nervous. Japanese shares retreated as a stronger yen amid rising geopolitical tensions put pressure on exporters. However, Chinese shares bucked the weak trend to hit 15-month highs after Beijing on Saturday announced plans to build Xiongan New Area, modelled on the Shenzhen special economic zone next to Hong Kong that helped kick start China's economic reforms in 1980.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,288.97 | 19.57 | 0.60 |
Hang Seng | 24,088.46 | -173.72 | -0.72 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,627.93 | -16.37 | -0.29 |
KLSE Composite | 1,735.84 | -3.68 | -0.21 |
Nikkei 225 | 18,747.87 | -50.01 | -0.27 |
Straits Times | 3,174.75 | -6.70 | -0.21 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,123.85 | -9.47 | -0.44 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,832.42 | -50.12 | -0.51 |