Asian equity markets ended mostly in red on Tuesday as fears about political risks in Europe sapped investors' appetite for risk and helped spur demand for safe-haven assets such as the Japanese yen and gold. Trading volumes remained thin across the region amid public holidays in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Investors kept an eye on the US jobs report due this Friday after Fed Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said three interest-rate increases this year makes sense. Japanese shares ended marginally lower as the yen strengthened amid the prospect of early elections in Italy and concerns about a Greek bailout. In economic releases, Japanese household spending declined again in April, official figures showed today, while retail sales rose more than expected and the jobless rate held steady at a two-decade low in the month, Consumer price inflation rose an annual 0.3 percent, well below the BOJ's 2 percent target.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | - | - | - |
Hang Seng | - | - | - |
Jakarta Composite | 5,693.39 | -18.94 | -0.33 |
KLSE Composite | 1,765.34 | 0.45 | 0.03 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,677.85 | -4.72 | -0.02 |
Straits Times | 3,204.79 | -9.76 | -0.30 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,343.68 | -9.29 | -0.39 |
Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |