Bears continue to linger over Asian markets as virus hits earnings, growth

18 Feb 2020 Evaluate

Bears continued to linger over Asian markets with most of the major indices ending in red terrain after Apple warned the new coronavirus had hit output and demand in China, fueling fears over the wider impact of the epidemic on corporate earnings and economic growth. Singapore’s index Straits Times edged lower by over half a percent as investors remained worried on the government’s decision to cut its economic growth forecast for this year as the virus batters the city state’s tourism and trade. However, Chinese benchmark edged higher as investors have taken some comfort from a slowdown in new infections outside hardest-hit Hubei province, which Chinese officials say is a sign that the outbreak is under control. Further, moves by China’s central bank on Monday to cushion the world’s second-largest economy against the health crisis appear to have done little to ease worries.

Asian Indices

Last Trade           

Change in Points

Change in %

Shanghai Composite

2,984.97
1.35
0.05

Hang Seng

27,530.20
-429.40
-1.54

Jakarta Composite

5,886.96
19.44
0.33

KLSE Composite

1,537.08

-0.04
--

Nikkei 225

23,193.80
-329.44
-1.40

Straits Times

3,196.63
-16.37
-0.51

KOSPI Composite

2,208.88
-33.29
-1.48

Taiwan Weighted

11,648.98
-114.53
-0.97

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