Asian equity markets ended mixed on Thursday with Japanese market snapping four-day rally, as the Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept its policy steady while sounding more upbeat on the economy, citing a pick-up in overseas demand. Even though Trump’s proposed changes in the tax system that includes a cut in the corporate tax rate from the current 35 percent to 15 percent, the plan left investors with questions on whether the changes would increased the budget deficit. Chinese shares ended higher after official data showed profits earned by Chinese industrial firms climbed markedly in March, though at a slower pace than in the first two months of the year. Industrial profits surged an annual 23.8 percent, well below the 31.5 percent spike in the January to February period. However, it was much faster than the 8.5 percent growth in the whole year 2016.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,152.19 | 11.34 | 0.36 |
Hang Seng | 24,698.48 | 120.05 | 0.49 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,707.03 | -19.5 | -0.34 |
KLSE Composite | 1,767.92 | -1.00 | -0.06 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,251.87 | -37.56 | -0.19 |
Straits Times | 3,171.36 | -2.40 | -0.08 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,209.46 | 1.62 | 0.07 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,860.62 | 4.17 | 0.04 |