Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend in early deals on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve lifted its key interest rate as expected for the third time this year. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points as widely anticipated and projected one more rate hike by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the South Korea market is higher as its first trading day of the week after returning from a public holiday period. Among the other Asian markets, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Malaysia are lower. Bucking the trend, Singapore, Taiwan, and Indonesia are in positive territory.
Nikkei 225 declined 144.07 points or 0.60% to 23,889.72, Hang Seng dropped 123.87 points or 0.45% to 27,693.00, Shanghai Composite dipped 11.02 points or 0.39% to 2,795.79, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI down by 1.12 points or 0.06% to 1,797.60.
On the flip side, Straits Times gained 15.75 points or 0.48% to 3,254.85, Jakarta Composite increased 41.27 points or 0.70% to 5,914.54, Taiwan Weighted added 24.95 points or 0.23% to 10,999.14, and KOSPI up by 9.20 points or 0.39% to 2,348.37.
