Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve chair's speech at a global central bankers' conclave for clues on future rate cuts. Meanwhile, the Wall Street has sent warning signs of a possible economic recession ahead as the trade war continues to take a toll on the overall economy. Japanese shares ended flat after reports showed Japanese manufacturing activity shrank for a fourth straight month in August as export orders fell at a sharper pace, while services sector activity expanded at the fastest pace in nearly two years. Chinese shares ended a tad higher despite uncertainty over the outlook for US interest rate cuts following the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting kept investors on edge, while the Chinese yuan's slump to an 11-year low also sapped their appetite for risk.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,883.44 | 3.11 | 0.11 |
Hang Seng | 26,048.72 | -221.32 | -0.84 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,239.24 | -13.73 | -0.22 |
KLSE Composite | 1,602.47 | 7.88 | 0.49 |
Nikkei 225 | 20,628.01 | 9.44 | 0.05 |
Straits Times | 3,127.74 | 5.17 | 0.17 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,951.01 | -13.64 | -0.69 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,529.78 | 3.98 | 0.04 |
