Asian equity markets ended mostly in red on Thursday as oil prices resumed a downtrend and minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting showed a lack of consensus among members over when to start reducing the Fed's securities portfolio. Fed officials were determined to continue raise interest rates even with muted inflation levels, but they were divided in their opinions on the future pace of US interest rate increases, the minutes showed. Investors awaited cues from this week's G20 summit and Friday's US jobs report for further direction. Japanese shares ended lower on a stronger yen amid rising geopolitical tensions on the Korean peninsula. Further, China stocks inched up, helped by strong gains in resource firms on expectations of robust mid-year earnings.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,212.44 | 5.31 | 0.17 |
Hang Seng | 25,465.22 | -56.75 | -0.22 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,849.58 | 24.52 | 0.42 |
KLSE Composite | 1,770.53 | 2.37 | 0.13 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,994.06 | -87.57 | -0.44 |
Straits Times | 3,226.34 | -22.37 | -0.69 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,387.81 | -0.54 | -0.02 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,368.20 | -36.59 | -0.35 |