Asian markets closed in green on Monday as geopolitical tensions eased, commodity prices advanced and the latest jobs report showed the US economy added the biggest number of jobs in over 1-1/2 years in February. Wages have lagged behind the growth in employment, helping ease investor fears over a faster pace of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Japanese shares hit a 1-1/2-week high, helped by tech shares, but early gains were trimmed as a suspected cronyism scandal involving the sale of state-owned land could hit Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's popularity. Also, Japan's business survey index of large manufacturers weakened notably in the three months ended March, the quarterly survey by the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet Office showed, triggering some profit taking at higher levels. Further, Chinese stocks rose for a third day as easing trade-war fears helped lift material companies.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,326.70 | 19.53 | 0.59 |
Hang Seng | 31,594.33 | 598.12 | 1.93 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,500.69 | 67.36 | 1.05 |
KLSE Composite | 1,861.22 | 17.30 | 0.94 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,824.03 | 354.83 | 1.65 |
Straits Times | 3,540.19 | 54.62 | 1.57 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,484.12 | 24.67 | 1.00 |
Taiwan Weighted | 11,002.10 | 137.28 | 1.26 |
