Asian stocks closed mixed on Friday as worries about a global trade war intensified and investors waited for cues from the US Labor Department's closely-watched monthly jobs report for March due out later in the day. US employment is expected to increase by 198,000 jobs in March after spiking by 313,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate is expected to dip to 4.0 percent after holding at 4.1 percent for five straight months. Gold edged up and the dollar faltered after US President Donald Trump said he has instructed his trade officials to consider $100 billion in additional tariffs on China. Japanese shares fell as the yen rose against the dollar in view of Trump's new tariff threat. Meanwhile, markets in China and Taiwan were closed for public holidays.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | - | - | - |
Hang Seng | 29,844.94 | 326.25 | 1.11 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,175.05 | -8.18 | -0.13 |
KLSE Composite | 1,837.01 | 0.88 | 0.05 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,567.52 | -77.90 | -0.36 |
Straits Times | 3,442.50 | 36.85 | 1.08 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,429.58 | -7.94 | -0.33 |
Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |
