Asian equity markets ended mixed on Monday after the annual meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, offered little surprises, with both Fed Chair Janet Yellen and ECB President Mario Draghi sticking to the script of the conference rather than discussing the course of monetary policy. Both warned against dismantling tough post-crisis financial rules that the Trump administration blames for stifling US growth. Chinese shares hit 20-month highs after data showed Chinese industrial firms maintained a profit surge in July, though the pace of growth eased from the previous month. Investors’ sentiments was also helped by reports that China's securities regulator will continue to support the mixed ownership reform of State-owned enterprises. Meanwhile, Japanese shares ended a choppy session on a flat note as the yen edged up in otherwise quiet trade in the wake of a North Korean missile test on Saturday.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,362.65 | 31.13 | 0.93 |
Hang Seng | 27,863.29 | 15.13 | 0.05 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,903.34 | -12.02 | -0.20 |
KLSE Composite | 1,769.49 | 0.32 | 0.02 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,449.90 | -2.71 | -0.01 |
Straits Times | 3,267.62 | 8.05 | 0.25 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,370.30 | -8.21 | -0.35 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,525.98 | 10.47 | 0.10 |