Asian equity markets ended mostly higher on Friday, with higher commodity prices and easing rate hike fears helping underpin investors’ sentiments. While the dollar index eased somewhat after the release of tepid US inflation data, oil prices hovered near multi-year highs reached the previous session. Geopolitical developments also remained in focus after US President Donald Trump said he had high hopes of ‘doing something very meaningful’ to curtail North Korea's nuclear ambitions at a summit in Singapore in June. Japanese shares hit a three-month high as chip-related shares advanced and several companies posted strong earnings. However, Chinese shares fell, but posted their best weekly performance in almost three months, as interest towards Chinese blue-chips has been steadily building ahead of MSCI’s A-share inclusion next month. Meanwhile, Malaysian markets were closed for a holiday as Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as the nation's seventh prime minister after a stunning election comeback.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,163.26 | -11.15 | -0.35 |
Hang Seng | 31,122.06 | 312.84 | 1.02 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,956.83 | 48.89 | 0.83 |
KLSE Composite | - | - | - |
Nikkei 225 | 22,758.48 | 261.30 | 1.16 |
Straits Times | 3,570.17 | 32.58 | 0.92 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,477.71 | 13.55 | 0.55 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,858.98 | 98.77 | 0.92 |
