Asian markets end in red on Thursday

28 Feb 2019 Evaluate

Asian markets ended lower on Thursday as comments by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer dampened recent optimism about the US-China trade talks. Investor sentiment was also dented by weak data from China and news that US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have abruptly ended summit talks earlier than scheduled. Chinese shares fell as weak data reinforced fears that the world's second-largest economy is losing momentum. Activity in China's vast manufacturing sector continued to contract in February, and at a faster rate, the latest survey from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed with a manufacturing PMI score of 49.2. That missed expectations for a score of 49.5, which would have been unchanged from the previous month. The non-manufacturing PMI came in with a score of 54.3 in February - shy of expectations for 54.5 and down from 54.7 in the previous month. Further, Japanese shares ended lower as data showed the biggest decline in Japanese factory output in a year. Meanwhile, Taiwan's stock markets were closed for the Peace Memorial Day holidays.

Asian Indices

Last Trade           

Change in Points

Change in %

Shanghai Composite

2,940.95
-12.87
-0.44

Hang Seng

28,633.18
-124.26
-0.43

Jakarta Composite

6,443.35
-82.33
-1.26

KLSE Composite

1,707.73

-5.72

-0.33

Nikkei 225

21,385.16
-171.35
-0.79

Straits Times

3,212.69
-37.33
-1.15

KOSPI Composite

2,195.44
-39.35
-1.76

Taiwan Weighted

-

-

-

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