Asian equity markets ended mixed on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve left its key rate unchanged, as widely expected, but set the stage for a rate hike at its next meeting in March. Japanese shares snapped a six-day losing streak as the yen weakened against the dollar and a survey showed Japan's manufacturing sector expanded at a faster rate in January. Chinese shares fell as investors dumped firms which are expected to report weak 2017 earnings and took profits ahead of the upcoming long Lunar New Year holidays. China Caixin manufacturing data matched expectations, helping limit losses across the region. The manufacturing sector in China continued to expand in January, and at a steady pace, the latest survey from Caixin showed with a PMI score of 51.5. That was in line with expectations and unchanged from the December reading. Meanwhile, the Malaysian market was closed for the Federal Territory Day.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,446.98 | -33.85 | -0.97 |
Hang Seng | 32,642.09 | -245.18 | -0.75 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,598.46 | -7.17 | -0.11 |
KLSE Composite | - | - | - |
Nikkei 225 | 23,486.11 | 387.82 | 1.68 |
Straits Times | 3,547.23 | 13.24 | 0.37 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,568.54 | 2.08 | 0.08 |
Taiwan Weighted | 11,160.25 | 56.46 | 0.51 |
