Asian equity markets ended mostly in green on Thursday. Japanese shares ended higher after a weak yen supported overall sentiment. Activity in Japan’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in August, and at a faster rate, the latest survey from Nikkei revealed with a manufacturing PMI score of 52.5, up from 52.3 in July. However, the market sentiments improved despite the US imposed a second round of tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese goods and the Asian nation vowed to retaliate, in an escalation of their trade war. After the US imposed an additional 25 percent in duties on Chinese imports ranging from motorcycles to steam turbines and railway cars, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it would lodge a complaint against the measure under the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism. Meanwhile, markets were also tracking political developments in Washington after Michael Cohen, US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and other charges and Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman was found guilty on five counts of tax fraud.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,724.63 | 10.02 | 0.37 |
Hang Seng | 27,790.46 | -137.12 | -0.49 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,982.98 | 38.68 | 0.65 |
KLSE Composite | 1,810.87 | 12.76 | 0.71 |
Nikkei 225 | 22,410.82 | 48.27 | 0.22 |
Straits Times | 3,249.89 | 50.00 | 1.54 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,282.60 | 9.27 | 0.41 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,863.13 | 58.93 | 0.54 |
