All of the Asian market indices are trading in red on Friday after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at its latest policy meeting but signaled further gradual rate hikes despite signs of a slowdown in the pace of growth in business investment. China's Shanghai Composite index edge down as policymakers struggle to dispel stock market gloom with promises of tax cuts and more bank lending. Chinese consumer price inflation and producer price inflation rose in line with expectations in October, official data showed. Consumer prices in China were up an annual 2.5 percent in October, in line with expectations and unchanged from the September reading.
Nikkei 225 dropped 204.13 points or 0.92% to 22,282.79, Straits Times dipped 23.78 points or 0.77% to 3,069.46, Hang Seng slipped 597.65 points or 2.33% to 25,630.07, KOSPI Shares decreased 5.19 points or 0.25% to 2,087.44, Shanghai Composite contracted 34.11 points or 1.31% to 2,601.52, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined 13.40 points or 0.78% to 1,708.02, Jakarta Composite tumbled 86.69 points or 1.47% to 5,890.12 and Taiwan Weighted down by 105.10 points or 1.07% to 9,840.21.
