Asian equity markets ended mostly lower on Tuesday as oil prices extended declines for a second straight session, worries over the US-China trade war persisted and investors looked ahead to a Congressional testimony from Fed chair Jerome Powell for clues on rate outlook. Chinese and Hong Kong shares ended lower, dented by energy firms following a sharp decline in crude oil prices. However, Japanese shares hit a one-month high as a weak yen helped lift exporters, offsetting weakness in machinery stocks on concerns over slowing growth in China. China reported on Monday that its economic growth slowed in the second quarter and that factory output growth in June weakened to a two-year low, a worrying sign for investment and exporters as a trade war with the United States intensifies.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,798.62 | -15.42 | -0.55 |
Hang Seng | 28,181.68 | -357.98 | -1.27 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,861.51 | -43.65 | -0.74 |
KLSE Composite | 1,737.28 | 10.61 | 0.61 |
Nikkei 225 | 22,697.36 | 100.01 | 0.44 |
Straits Times | 3,239.64 | 6.85 | 0.21 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,297.92 | -4.07 | -0.18 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,778.99 | -38.46 | -0.36 |
