Asian markets ended mostly lower on Thursday in cautious trade, with tumbling oil prices and caution ahead of the upcoming G20 summit keeping investors on the sidelines. Hang Seng shares ended marginally lower as investors kept a close eye on violent protests in Hong Kong over an extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial. Further, Japanese shares ended lower, dragged down by chipmakers after the Philadelphia Semiconductor index dropped 2.3 percent on concerns of a slowdown in China. Meanwhile, Chinese shares ended on a flat note as Vice-Premier Liu called for more measures to support the economy and central bank data showed the country's bank lending increased in May. Banks extended Yen 1.18 trillion new loans in May compared to Yen 1.02 trillion in April. However, this was below the forecast of Yen 1.3 trillion.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,910.74 | 1.36 | 0.05 |
Hang Seng | 27,294.71 | -13.75 | -0.05 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,273.08 | -3.10 | -0.05 |
KLSE Composite | 1,643.74 | -7.00 | -0.42 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,032.00 | -97.72 | -0.46 |
Straits Times | 3,220.66 | 12.92 | 0.40 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,103.15 | -5.60 | -0.27 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,561.01 | -54.65 | -0.51 |
