Most Asian stocks ended lower on Tuesday on the back of profit-taking after last week's huge gains sparked by the US Federal Reserve stimulus plan and following losses on Wall Street. Increasing geo-political worries between Japan and China dragged down shares of Tokyo- listed companies like Honda Motor and Fast Retailing on Shanghai Composite and slowing growth in the U.S. also pressurized the market to an extent. However, gains among utilities restricted losses on Japan’s Nikkei 255 as equity markets reopened today after a public holiday. Meanwhile, Korea Composite closed higher amid alternate bouts of buying and selling throughout the day. Hong Kong shares fell from a 4-1/2-month high in light trade, due to weakness in commodity sectors.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,059.54 | -18.96 | -0.91 |
Hang Seng | 20,601.11 | -56.18 | -0.27 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,223.89 | -31.39 | -0.74 |
KLSE Composite | 1,640.33 | -2.62 | -0.16 |
Nikkei 225 | 9,123.77 | -35.62 | -0.39 |
Straits Times | 3,067.98 | -10.74 | -0.35 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,004.96 | 2.61 | 0.13 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,734.26 | -27.96 | -0.36 |