Asian markets ended in red on Friday, hurt by data showing disappointing pace of industrial output and retail sales growth in China in the month of November. Worries about slowing global economic growth and skepticism about a trade deal between US and China anytime soon weighed as well on Asian markets. Data showed China's industrial output grew at its slowest pace in nearly three years, increasing by 5.4 percent in November, after growing by 5.9 percent a month earlier. Meanwhile, retail sales in China grew 8.1 percent in November, the weakest growth since 2003. In October, retail sales were up 8.6 percent. The slower pace of industrial output and retail sales growth was due to the impact of the ongoing trade disputes with the US. Japanese market ended lower despite a fairly decent Tankan survey report. The Bank of Japan said in its quarterly Tankan Survey that the index of business and manufacturing sentiment in Japan was steady in the fourth quarter of 2018. The large manufacturing index was unchanged with a score of +19, beating expectations for +18. The outlook came in at +15, shy of forecasts for +17 and down from +19 in the previous three months.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % | Shanghai Composite | 2,593.74 | -40.31 | -1.53 | Hang Seng | 26,094.79
| -429.56 | -1.62 | Jakarta Composite | 6,169.84 | -7.88 | -0.13 | KLSE Composite | 1,661.96 | -14.04 | -0.84 | Nikkei 225 | 21,374.83
| -441.36
| -2.02
| Straits Times | 3,077.09
| -33.99
| -1.09
| KOSPI Composite | 2,069.38 | -26.17
| -1.25
| Taiwan Weighted | 9,774.16
| -84.60
| -0.86
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