The Asian markets are showing the mixed trend, though most of the indices in the region have shrugged off news about North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch. North Korea fired a ballistic missile in the first missile launch since September, with the missile landing in the Sea of Japan. Traders in the region were getting support with higher closing of US markets overnight following progress on US tax reform, upbeat economic data and remarks by Federal Reserve chair nominee Jerome Powell. Shanghai and Hong Kong market fell and the Seoul markets too gave up early gains with investors considering the latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch from North Korea, while the Japanese market was up on yen weakness.
FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was up by 2.79 points or 0.16% to 1,717.21,Taiwan Weighted gained 13.36 points or 0.12% to 10,720.43 and Nikkei 225 was up by 61.9 points or 0.28% to 22,548.14.
On the other hand, Hang Seng declined by 106.03 points or 0.36% to 29,574.82, Jakarta Composite was lower by 16.49 points or 0.27% to 6,054.22, Shanghai Composite lost 16.19 points or 0.49% to 3,317.47, KOSPI Index was tad lower 0.45 points or 0.02% to 2,513.74.