Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday amid optimism that the stimulus packages by central banks around the world will help bolster slowing economic growth. Meanwhile, the market’s focus shifted to the US-China trade war as investors digested news that the US and Chinese deputy trade negotiators resumed face-to-face talks for the first time in almost two months on Thursday. Japanese shares ended higher as investors digested data that showed Japan's core consumer inflation slowed to a new two-year low in August, rising 0.5% in August from a year earlier, and slowing from a 0.6% gain in July. The data raised expectations that the Bank of Japan will roll out additional easing measures to boost economic growth.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,006.45 | 7.17 | 0.24 |
Hang Seng | 26,435.67 | -33.28 | -0.13 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,231.47 | -13.00 | -0.21 |
KLSE Composite | 1,597.41 | 1.13 | 0.07 |
Nikkei 225 | 22,079.09 | 34.64 | 0.16 |
Straits Times | 3,159.68 | 0.88 | 0.03 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,091.52 | 11.17 | 0.54 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,929.69 | 34.99 | 0.32 |
