Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday after US stock markets recovered from an early plunge to end mixed overnight, helped by hopes the Federal Reserve could pause its interest-rate hikes. Investors looked ahead to a key US jobs report due tonight, with employment is expected to increase by 205,000 jobs in November after jumping by 250,000 jobs in October, while the unemployment rate is expected to hold at 3.7 percent. Japanese shares snapped a three-day losing streak despite a firm yen on lingering trade worries. Meanwhile, Chinese shares ended flat in thin trade after a sharp fall yesterday as the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou dealt a blow to hopes of easing of US-China trade tensions.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,605.89 | 0.71 | 0.03 |
Hang Seng | 26,063.76 | -92.62 | -0.36 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,126.36 | 10.87 | 0.18 |
KLSE Composite | 1,680.54 | -2.80 | -0.17 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,678.68 | 177.06 | 0.82 |
Straits Times | 3,111.12 | -4.40 | -0.14 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,075.76 | 7.07 | 0.34 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,760.88 | 76.16 | 0.78 |
