Asian equity markets ended mostly in red on Thursday as weakness in tech stocks following the overnight pullback by the tech-heavy Nasdaq overshadowed positive manufacturing data from China. The manufacturing sector in China continued to expand in November, and at a faster pace, the National Bureau of Statistics said with a PMI score of 51.8. That beat forecasts for 51.4 and was up from 51.6 in October. Chinese shares ended lower, pressured by selling of real estate and financial shares, and as investors booked profits in sector leaders that had stellar gains this year. Though, Japanese shares hit a three-week high as the dollar firmed up against the yen and gains in the financial sector offset weakness in tech shares. There were also hopes that the Bank of Japan will buy more exchange-traded funds.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,317.19 | -20.67 | -0.62 |
Hang Seng | 29,177.35 | -446.48 | -1.51 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,952.14 | -109.23 | -1.80 |
KLSE Composite | 1,717.86 | -2.52 | -0.15 |
Nikkei 225 | 22,724.96 | 127.76 | 0.57 |
Straits Times | 3,433.54 | -5.45 | -0.16 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,476.37 | -36.53 | -1.45 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,560.44 | -153.11 | -1.43 |