Asian equity markets ended mixed on Friday, with investors cautious over trade tensions after the US announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from several of its allies would be reapplied. Investors look ahead to the release of US jobs data for May, due later in the day for direction. Japanese shares ended slightly lower as fears of a global trade war resurfaced and US President Donald Trump downplayed the chances of reaching a quick resolution with North Korea in the upcoming summit. Further, Chinese shares ended lower even as global index provider MSCI Inc. added around 230 mainland-listed Chinese stocks to its flagship Emerging Markets Index and other indexes. On the data front, China's manufacturing activity expanded at a steady pace in May, survey data from IHS Markit showed. The Caixin Purchasing Managers' index remained unchanged at 51.1 while expected it to rise to 51.2. Meanwhile, the markets in Malaysia and Indonesia are closed on Friday in observance of the King's Birthday and Pancasila Day, respectively.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,075.14 | -20.34 | -0.66 |
Hang Seng | 30,492.91 | 24.35 | 0.08 |
Jakarta Composite | - | - | - |
KLSE Composite | - | - | - |
Nikkei 225 | 22,171.35 | -30.47 | -0.14 |
Straits Times | 3,427.51 | -0.67 | -0.02 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,438.96 | 15.95 | 0.66 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,949.08 | 74.12 | 0.68 |
