Asian equity benchmarks exhibited mixed trend in Friday’s trade, as traders remained on sidelines ahead of ahead of Friday’s U.S. government payrolls report. U.S employment is expected to increase by 180,000 jobs in April after an increase of 98,000 jobs in March. The unemployment rate is expected to tick up to 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent. Investors also remained focus on this weekend’s presidential runoff vote in France. Moreover, retreat in crude oil and other commodities prices knocked global sentiment. Commodity prices across the board tumbled, led by oil, which fell by 5 per cent in overnight trading on concerns of a supply glut with analysts forecasting further losses. Japan and South Korea market are closed for a holiday.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,103.04 | -24.33 | -0.78 |
Hang Seng | 24,476.35 | -207.53 | -0.84 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,683.38 | 13.93 | 0.25 |
KLSE Composite | 1,762.74 | 4.07 | 0.23 |
Nikkei 225 | -- | -- | -- |
Straits Times | 3,229.73 | 1.11 | 0.03 |
KOSPI Composite | -- | -- | -- |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,899.94 | 67.70 | 0.68 |