Asian markets ended in green on Monday, with investors indulging in hectic buying amid rising optimism the upcoming fresh round of talks between the US and China will help resolve trade disputes between the two countries. Besides, a fairly strong US jobs data and the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's remarks last week that the Fed would be patient and flexible in policy decisions too boosted sentiment across the market. Chinese shares ended higher after the country's central bank slashed the amount of cash that banks must hold in reserve in an attempt to avoid a sharp economic slowdown. Further, Japanese shares closed higher, tracking sharp gains on Wall Street. The services sector in Japan continued to expand in December, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from Nikkei revealed on Monday with a PMI score of 51.0. That's down from 52.3 in November, although it remains above the boom-of-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,533.09 | 18.22 | 0.72 |
Hang Seng | 25,835.70 | 209.67 | 0.82 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,287.22 | 12.68 | 0.20 |
KLSE Composite | 1,679.17 | 9.39 | 0.56 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,038.97 | 477.01 | 2.44 |
Straits Times | 3,102.80 | 43.57 | 1.42 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,037.10 | 26.85 | 1.34 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,590.30 | 207.79 | 2.21 |
