The Asian markets have made a mixed start with only few of the indices trading marginally in green. Japan downgrading its economic assessment for the first time in 10 months amid slowing growth in China and on speculation Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke will refrain from introducing fresh stimulus measures this week, was weighing on the regional markets sentiment. Chinese market was witnessing some buying after slumping the most in six weeks yesterday after the statistics bureau said industrial companies’ profits fell by the most this year in July.
Shanghai Composite was down by 0.58 points or 0.03% to 2,055.13, Hang Seng was down by 24.16 points or 0.12% to 19,774.51, Jakarta Composite declined by 10.15 points or 0.26% to 4,135.47, KLSE Composite was marginally down by 0.26 points or 0.02% to 1,647.87, Nikkei 225 lost 25.32 points or 0.28% to 9,060.07, Kospi Composite was down by 6.32 points or 0.33% to 1,912.11 and Taiwan Weighted plunged by 76.30 points or 1.04% to 7,391.09.
On the other hand, Straits Times was marginally up by 1.10 points or 0.01% to 3,045.16.