Asian markets ended mostly higher on Wednesday as investors closely monitoring China’s progress in returning to work as the country deals with the corona virus outbreak. Japanese shares ended up as the yen retreated after data showed core machinery orders, a highly volatile data series regarded as an indicator of capital spending in the coming six to nine months, fell 12.5% month-on-month in December. Though, Chinese shares ended lower as worries persisted over the spreading corona virus epidemic, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives and weighed on business activity in the country.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,975.40 | -9.57 | -0.32 |
Hang Seng | 27,655.81 | 125.61 | 0.46 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,928.79 | 41.83 | 0.71 |
KLSE Composite | 1,534.16 | -2.92 | -0.19 |
Nikkei 225 | 23,400.70 | 206.90 | 0.89 |
Straits Times | 3,213.71 | 17.08 | 0.53 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,210.34 | 1.46 | 0.07 |
Taiwan Weighted | 11,758.84 | 109.86 | 0.94 |