Asian markets ended higher on Friday as investors cheered signs of progress in trade talks between the United States and China. US President Donald Trump on Thursday hinted at progress in his high-stakes trade battle with China. Separately, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported Liu said Beijing was willing to reach an agreement with Washington to prevent any further escalation of the trade war. Japanese shares ended higher as the safe-haven yen eased on hopes of progress in Sino-US trade talks. The trade sentiment was also buoyed by a sharp jump in Seven & I Holdings, the country's largest convenience store operator, after it announced a massive restructuring plan. Furthermore, Malaysian shares gained after data showed that the country's industrial production rose 1.9% in August from a year earlier. Meanwhile, Taiwan's market is closed for a holiday today.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,973.66 | 25.95 | 0.88 |
Hang Seng | 26,308.44 | 600.51 | 2.34 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,105.80 | 82.16 | 1.36 |
KLSE Composite | 1,556.84 | 4.97 | 0.32 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,798.87 | 246.89 | 1.15 |
Straits Times | 3,113.97 | 24.49 | 0.79 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,044.61 | 16.46 | 0.81 |
Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |
