Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday on a slew of weak US data on private sector job growth, trade balance and service sector growth reinforced expectations for a near-term interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Hong Kong shares finished down after a survey showed Hong Kong's private sector contracted further in June, with declines in business activity and export orders from mainland. Meanwhile, Seoul shares closed higher as Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki warned of possible countermeasures against Japan if it keeps restrictions on exports of high-tech materials to its companies for a long time. Japanese shares ended up even as the dollar slipped against the yen on Fed rate cut hopes.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,005.25 | -10.01 | -0.33 |
Hang Seng | 28,795.77 | -59.37 | -0.21 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,375.97 | 13.35 | 0.21 |
KLSE Composite | 1,687.48 | -2.57 | -0.15 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,702.45 | 64.29 | 0.30 |
Straits Times | 3,372.25 | 4.45 | 0.13 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,108.73 | 12.71 | 0.61 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,775.90 | 32.13 | 0.30 |
