Asian markets ended mixed on Friday as hopes for Chinese stimulus helped offset weak economic readings from the US and Europe. Investors continued to closely watch high-level talks between US and Chinese trade negotiators in Washington, as the two sides face a March 1 deadline to avoid a further escalation in tariffs. Japanese shares fell to snap a four-day winning streak as investors digested a set of weak US data. Japanese inflation picked up in January, but remained far below the Bank of Japan's target, a government report showed. Meanwhile, Chinese shares ended sharply higher after data showed growth in China's new home prices fell to a nine-month low in January, boosting stimulus hopes. Reports indicated that Chinese authorities could be getting ready to implement more extensive stimulus measures in a bid to encourage economic growth.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,804.23 | 52.43 | 1.91 |
Hang Seng | 28,816.30 | 186.38 | 0.65 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,501.38 | -36.39 | -0.56 |
KLSE Composite | 1,721.42 | -9.26 | -0.54 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,425.51 | -38.72 | -0.18 |
Straits Times | 3,269.90 | -8.01 | -0.24 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,230.50 | 1.84 | 0.08 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,322.92 | 3.39 | 0.03 |
