Asian stocks closed mostly in green on Wednesday after slightly firmer lead from Wall Street, which recorded a third consecutive day of gains. Meanwhile, investors awaited the release of US inflation data due later in the day, which may provide further clues on interest-rate changes in the world's largest economy. It is feared that a spike in inflation on the back of a tightening labor market and increased government spending may push Treasury yields higher once again and send equities spiraling lower. Chinese stocks eked out modest gains in thin trade as many traders had already left for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday that starts on Thursday. Though, Japanese shares hit a four-month low as the dollar slid to a 15-month low against the yen and data showed the country's GDP grew at a slower than expected 0.5 percent annual pace in the fourth quarter, marking the eighth straight quarter of expansion.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,199.16 | 14.20 | 0.45 |
Hang Seng | 30,515.60 | 676.07 | 2.27 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,594.40 | 16.22 | 0.25 |
KLSE Composite | 1,834.93 | 1.91 | 0.10 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,154.17 | -90.51 | -0.43 |
Straits Times | 3,402.86 | -12.21 | -0.36 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,421.83 | 26.64 | 1.11 |
Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |
