Asian markets ended mixed on Friday as escalating tensions between the US and Iran and renewed trade uncertainty kept investors on the sidelines ahead of the weekend. After Iran shot down a US military drone over the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump declined to say whether the US would retaliate against Iran for the shooting. Media reports suggest that Trump has abruptly pulled back the decision to carry out military strikes against the country after previously approving it. Chinese shares ended higher on expectations that China's monetary authorities may moderately ease their overall prudent policy stance in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, Japanese shares ended down as weak manufacturing data dented sentiment and investors looked forward to US-China trade talks for direction.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,001.98 | 14.86 | 0.50 |
Hang Seng | 28,473.71 | -76.72 | -0.27 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,315.44 | -20.26 | -0.32 |
KLSE Composite | 1,682.23 | 6.80 | 0.41 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,258.64 | -204.22 | -0.95 |
Straits Times | 3,321.40 | 6.89 | 0.21 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,125.62 | -5.67 | -0.27 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,803.77 | 18.76 | 0.17 |
