Asian equity markets ended mostly in red on Wednesday, tracking losses on Wall Street overnight, after US crude futures fell more than 2 percent to enter into bear market territory on concerns about oversupply amid indications of rising production in Nigeria and Libya. A decision by US index provider MSCI to add mainland China-listed shares to its widely followed stock indexes failed to boost investors' risk appetite. Geopolitical tensions also took center stage after US President Donald Trump tweeted that efforts by China to rein in North Korea have not worked. Trump's warning came exactly a day before US and Chinese officials are to meet in Washington to talk about North Korea. Japanese shares lost ground as a stronger yen as well as falling oil prices sapped investors' appetite for risk.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,156.21 | 16.20 | 0.52 |
Hang Seng | 25,694.58 | -148.46 | -0.57 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,818.55 | 26.65 | 0.46 |
KLSE Composite | 1,775.57 | -5.14 | -0.29 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,138.79 | -91.62 | -0.45 |
Straits Times | 3,201.77 | -28.65 | -0.89 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,357.53 | -11.70 | -0.49 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,349.72 | 25.26 | 0.24 |