Asian equity markets closed mixed on Tuesday as oil extended overnight gains and the Japanese yen weakened ahead of the two-day policy meeting of the Federal Reserve starting later today. The Fed is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged but investors will be looking for clues on whether the US central bank will raise interest rates again this year. Chinese stocks ended lower as investors booked profits in recent outperformers such as real estate and resource firms. Investors’ sentiments were also dented after China's top decision-making body emphasized stricter financial discipline for the rest of 2017. Japanese shares ended lower in choppy trade, drawing little support from a weaker yen, which pulled back from a five-week high versus the dollar.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,243.69 | -6.91 | -0.21 |
Hang Seng | 26,852.05 | 5.22 | 0.02 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,813.54 | 11.95 | 0.21 |
KLSE Composite | 1,763.34 | 1.35 | 0.08 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,955.20 | -20.47 | -0.10 |
Straits Times | 3,327.83 | 17.03 | 0.51 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,439.90 | -11.63 | -0.47 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,463.15 | 1.87 | 0.02 |