Most Asian markets ended with green mark as minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's most recent meeting indicated that many members of the central bank's policy-setting committee were ready to introduce more stimulus measures if there is no recovery in economic growth. Japan's Nikkei closed high on Thursday, reversing earlier losses as exporters came under pressure due to firmer yen. Meanwhile, the more than expected decline in Chinese manufacturing was also overlooked on domestic indices as shares in both Shanghai and Hong Kong bounced on increasing hopes for further monetary easing after Zhou Xiaochuan, People’s Bank of China governor, said all monetary policy tools were on the table.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,113.07 | 5.36 | 0.25 |
Hang Seng | 20,132.24 | 244.46 | 1.23 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,162.66 | 2.15 | 0.05 |
KLSE Composite | 1,651.61 | -0.64 | -0.04 |
Nikkei 225 | 9,178.12 | 46.38 | 0.51 |
Straits Times | 3,056.37 | 6.90 | 0.23 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,942.54 | 7.35 | 0.38 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,505.17 | 8.59 | 0.11 |