Asian markets ended mixed on Wednesday as global growth worries persisted and Italy's populist government escalated a row with the European Commission over the country's spending plans. The Italian government told the European Union Tuesday it would maintain its deficit and economic growth forecasts for 2019 despite calls from the bloc's authorities to revise its draft budget. Chinese shares ended lower after the release of mixed economic data. Industrial production in China rose an annual 5.9 percent in October, the National Bureau of Statistics said today - exceeding expectations for 5.8 percent, which would have been unchanged from the September reading. Retail sales climbed 8.6 percent year-on-year - missing forecasts for a gain of 9.2 percent, while fixed asset investment advanced an annual 5.7 percent, surpassing forecasts for 5.5 percent. Meanwhile, Japanese shares ended higher as technology companies and electronic component makers surged on short covering.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,632.24 | -22.64 | -0.86 |
Hang Seng | 25,654.43 | -138.44 | -0.54 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,858.29 | 23.09 | 0.39 |
KLSE Composite | 1,688.41 | 0.84 | 0.05 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,846.48 | 35.96 | 0.16 |
Straits Times | 3,043.19 | -10.41 | -0.34 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,068.05 | -3.18 | -0.15 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,791.88 | 16.04 | 0.16 |
