Asian markets ended mostly higher on Monday due to greater optimism for US-China trade relations and the release of US data pointing to solid economic growth in the world's largest economy. China said on Monday it would lower import tariffs on over 850 products from January 1, including frozen pork, as well as some information technology products starting July 1. Trade optimism overall boosted sentiment as US President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he had ‘a very good talk’ with President Xi Jinping of China on trade and that Beijing has already started large scale purchases of agricultural products and more. Japanese shares ended marginally higher as the early approval of a cancer drug and an improved earnings outlook boosted the healthcare sector in thin trade ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,962.75 | -42.19 | -1.40 |
Hang Seng | 27,906.41 | 35.06 | 0.13 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,305.91 | 21.54 | 0.34 |
KLSE Composite | 1,614.18 | 4.00 | 0.25 |
Nikkei 225 | 23,821.11 | 4.48 | 0.02 |
Straits Times | 3,214.00 | 1.61 | 0.05 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,203.71 | -0.47 | -0.02 |
Taiwan Weighted | 12,022.23 | 63.15 | 0.53 |
