The Asian markets made a mixed closing on Wednesday; some indices in the region remained under pressure since morning after US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen boosted expectations for an interest-rate rise in December and as President Donald Trump prepares to lay out his tax-cut plan. Japanese shares hit 1-1/2 week lows as many heavyweight stocks went ex-dividend, offsetting investor optimism over a declining yen. Though, China's Shanghai Composite index closed marginally higher after official data showed China's industrial profit growth accelerated sharply in August. Industrial profits grew at a faster pace of 24.0 percent year-over-year in August, following a 16.5 percent spike in July. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index too ended up by nearly half a percent for the day.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,345.27 | 1.69 | 0.05 |
Hang Seng | 27,642.43 | 129.42 | 0.47 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,863.03 | -0.93 | -0.02 |
KLSE Composite | 1,764.24 | -1.35 | -0.08 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,267.05 | -63.14 | -0.31 |
Straits Times | 3,236.20 | 24.11 | 0.75 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,372.57 | -1.75 | -0.07 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,326.68 | 69.66 | 0.68 |