Asian equity markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday as tensions between the US and North Korea persisted and investors kept an eye on Hurricane Irma, which is bearing down on the Caribbean islands and Florida, just days after Harvey disrupted refineries along the Texas coast. Also, the European Central Bank meets on Thursday and it isn't entirely clear whether the central bank will send a new policy message regarding the timing of an exit from its ultra-loose monetary policy. Japanese shares ended almost on a flat note even as the dollar edged lower against the yen to hover near a 4-1/2-month low amid the simmering North Korea tensions. Meanwhile, Chinese shares pared early losses to end little changed on expectations that Beijing will step up reform of state-owned enterprises.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,385.39 | 1.07 | 0.03 |
Hang Seng | 27,613.76 | -127.59 | -0.46 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,824.14 | -5.84 | -0.10 |
KLSE Composite | 1,772.48 | 2.85 | 0.16 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,357.97 | -27.84 | -0.14 |
Straits Times | 3,232.47 | -18.79 | -0.58 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,319.82 | -6.80 | -0.29 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,547.86 | -69.98 | -0.66 |