Asian equity markets ended mixed on Monday as increased tensions between the US and China dented risk appetite and spurred demand for safe-haven assets. Chinese shares ended lower after China's new economy czar, Vice Premier Liu He, reportedly told US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a phone call that Beijing was ready to defend itself in an escalating tariff dispute. Japanese shares ended lower as the yen reached a near 17-month high against the dollar on fears of a global trade war and caution towards political developments in Tokyo. Further, the Bank of Japan had likely bought exchange traded funds (ETFs) to support the market, which has been pushed lower by fears of a global trade war.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,133.72 | -19.04 | -0.60 |
Hang Seng | 30,548.77 | 239.48 | 0.79 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,200.17 | -10.53 | -0.17 |
KLSE Composite | 1,859.91 | -5.31 | -0.28 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,766.10 | 148.24 | 0.72 |
Straits Times | 3,412.46 | -8.93 | -0.26 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,437.08 | 20.32 | 0.84 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,840.05 | 16.72 | 0.15 |
