Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday as investors welcomed positive developments on the Sino-US trade front and a sufficiently dovish European Central Bank (ECB) rate decision. US President Trump said he would consider an interim deal with China but would prefer a full agreement as the world's two largest economies look to end a widening trade war. The ECB cut its key interest rate and launched a sweeping package of bond purchases, bolstering expectations the Fed will make a modest quarter-point cut at its meeting next week. Hong Kong shares ended higher as investors cheered signs of a breakthrough in the year-long US-China tariff war. Japanese shares ended higher as the safe-haven yen continued to weaken following the European Central Bank's decision to resume its quantitative easing. Meanwhile, markets in China, South Korea and Taiwan were closed for public holidays.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | - | - | - |
Hang Seng | 27,352.69 | 265.06 | 0.98 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,334.84 | -7.33 | -0.12 |
KLSE Composite | 1,601.25 | 0.25 | 0.02 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,988.29 | 228.68 | 1.05 |
Straits Times | 3,211.49 | 16.53 | 0.52 |
KOSPI Composite | - | - | - |
Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |
