The Asian markets closed mostly in red on Thursday, bond yields hit a fresh four-year high and the dollar stood near a one-week high against a basket of major currencies after the minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting showed the central bank plans to raise interest rates three times in 2018. According to the Fed minutes, policymakers expressed rising confidence on inflation while agreeing that the strengthening in the near-term economic outlook increased the likelihood that a gradual upward trajectory of the federal funds rate would be appropriate. Japanese shares ended to near one-week low as US rate hike bets boosted demand for the yen. Though, Chinese shares ended higher as traders returned to their desks following the Lunar New Year holidays.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,268.56 | 69.40 | 2.17 |
Hang Seng | 30,965.68 | -466.21 | -1.48 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,593.06 | -50.34 | -0.76 |
KLSE Composite | 1,855.07 | -3.10 | -0.17 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,736.44 | -234.37 | -1.07 |
Straits Times | 3,488.46 | -27.77 | -0.79 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,414.28 | -15.37 | -0.63 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,662.38 | -52.06 | -0.49 |
