Asian equity markets ended mixed on Thursday after China announced retaliatory tariffs against the United States, raising concerns over the escalation of the trade war between the world's top two economies. A slump in oil prices overnight and the US announcement that it would soon impose new sanctions on Russia also kept investors nervous. Chinese shares ended higher after a government report showed consumer inflation in the country rose an annual 2.1 percent in July, exceeding expectations for 2.0 percent and up from 1.9 percent in June. The producer price index climbed 4.6 percent from last year - beating forecasts for 4.5 percent and down from 4.7 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, Japanese shares ended lower as machinery orders data disappointed and caution crept in ahead of US-Japan trade talks. Singapore’s market was closed for a holiday.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,794.71 | 50.64 | 1.81 |
Hang Seng | 28,607.30 | 248.16 | 0.87 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,065.26 | -29.57 | -0.49 |
KLSE Composite | 1,804.95 | 0.22 | 0.01 |
Nikkei 225 | 22,598.39 | -45.92 | -0.20 |
Straits Times | - | - | - |
KOSPI Composite | 2,303.71 | 2.26 | 0.10 |
Taiwan Weighted | 11,028.07 | -47.18 | -0.43 |
