Asian markets closed mostly higher on Thursday, though markets in China and Hong Kong shares ended in the red amid anxiety ahead of crucial Trump-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit later this week. While a substantive breakthrough is unlikely, the two sides may agree on a communique for a de-escalation of trade tensions. Underlying sentiment remained supported across the region after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that current interest rate is 'just below a range of estimates of so-called neutral level'. Japanese shares ended higher despite the dollar weakening against the yen on expectations of a slowdown in the pace of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,567.44 | -34.30 | -1.34 |
Hang Seng | 26,451.03 | -231.53 | -0.88 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,107.17 | 115.92 | 1.90 |
KLSE Composite | 1,696.34 | 9.79 | 0.58 |
Nikkei 225 | 22,262.60 | 85.58 | 0.38 |
Straits Times | 3,109.44 | 14.96 | 0.48 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,114.10 | 5.88 | 0.28 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,885.36 | 1.05 | 0.01 |
