Asian equity markets closed mostly higher on Tuesday as stable oil prices, improved corporate earnings in Japan and better-than-expected China Caixin manufacturing PMI data helped investors shrug off geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty in the United States. Chinese shares ended higher after the latest survey from Caixin revealed the manufacturing sector in China picked up steam in July, with a manufacturing score of 51.1. Other regional manufacturing surveys painted a mixed picture, with activity in Japan, Australia and Taiwan expanding while manufacturing sectors in South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia swung to contraction in July. Further, Japanese shares ended higher, buoyed by companies such as Nitto Denko and Mitsui Sumitomo Financial Group reporting strong earnings, though gains were tempered by a stronger yen.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,292.64 | 19.61 | 0.60 |
Hang Seng | 27,540.23 | 216.24 | 0.79 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,805.21 | -35.73 | -0.61 |
KLSE Composite | 1,765.13 | 5.10 | 0.29 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,985.79 | 60.61 | 0.30 |
Straits Times | 3,338.20 | 8.68 | 0.26 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,422.96 | 20.25 | 0.84 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,437.29 | 9.96 | 0.10 |