Asian equity markets ended mixed on Monday as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve's highly anticipated monetary policy decision due later in the week as well as new Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's first press conference for directional cues. Japanese shares closed lower after an opinion poll showed Prime Minister Abe's support falling to its lowest since he took office in 2012. Investors ignored preliminary figures from the Ministry of Finance showing that Japan's exports and imports grew more-than-expected in February. The value of exports climbed 1.8 percent year-over-year in February, faster than the 1.4 percent rise economists had forecast. Meanwhile, Chinese and Hong Kong stocks ended higher after Chinese President Xi Jinping was re-elected unanimously to the post over the weekend by the country's legislature.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,279.25 | 9.37 | 0.29 |
Hang Seng | 31,513.76 | 11.79 | 0.04 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,289.57 | -15.38 | -0.24 |
KLSE Composite | 1,847.94 | 1.55 | 0.08 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,480.90 | -195.61 | -0.90 |
Straits Times | 3,498.29 | -13.85 | -0.39 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,475.03 | -18.94 | -0.76 |
Taiwan Weighted | 11,046.90 | 19.20 | 0.17 |
