Asian markets ended mostly higher on Thursday after US stocks fluctuated before ending higher overnight, reflecting positive reaction to quarterly results from the likes of IBM, United Technologies and Procter & Gamble. Though, the upside remained capped by fears over slackening global growth, a US government shutdown and the Sino-US trade conflict. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will visit the United States next week for the next round of trade negotiations with Washington, following high-level talks between the world's two largest economies at the start of the year. Japanese shares ended marginally lower after data showed the manufacturing sector in Japan slipped into stagnation in January. The manufacturing PMI stood at 50.0, down from 52.6 in December.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,591.69 | 10.69 | 0.41 |
Hang Seng | 27,120.98 | 112.78 | 0.42 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,466.66 | 15.49 | 0.24 |
KLSE Composite | 1,693.59 | 5.45 | 0.32 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,574.63 | -19.09 | -0.09 |
Straits Times | 3,190.73 | 19.62 | 0.62 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,145.03 | 17.25 | 0.81 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,877.12 | 30.72 | 0.31 |
