Asian equity markets ended mixed on Friday as worries about tariffs and a potential trade war persisted and investors waited for the OPEC meeting outcome. Chinese shares rose but posted their worst weekly loss since early February on worries over a continuing trade battle with the US. Trade worries lingered after China's commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng accused the US of using bullying tactics and blackmail in threatening to impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese imports. Separately, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday the end goal of the trade negotiations is to reduce high trade barriers and tariffs for US firms. Meanwhile, Japanese shares fell as a firmer yen and tariff concerns pulled down automakers.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,889.95 | 14.14 | 0.49 |
Hang Seng | 29,338.70 | 42.65 | 0.15 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,821.81 | -0.52 | -0.01 |
KLSE Composite | 1,694.15 | 1.83 | 0.11 |
Nikkei 225 | 22,516.83 | -176.21 | -0.78 |
Straits Times | 3,287.40 | -12.60 | -0.38 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,357.22 | 19.39 | 0.82 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,899.28 | -41.79 | -0.38 |
