Asian markets trade mostly lower in early deals on Thursday

20 Feb 2020 Evaluate

Most of the Asian equity benchmarks are trading lower in early deals on Thursday, amid still lingering fears on fast spreading coronavirus outbreak and its impact over global economy. However, losses remained trimmed after People’s Bank of China cut its benchmark one-year loan prime rate by 10 basis points, and the five-year loan prime rate by 5 basis points to support its economy. Japan's Nikkei traded higher with weaker yen, in line with higher US stocks overnight. Among the Asian markets, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea are trading lower. Bucking the trend, Japan, Indonesia and Shanghai are firm.

Straits Times dipped 16.40 points or 0.51% to 3,197.31, Hang Seng narrowed 224.21 points or 0.81% to 27,431.60, Taiwan Weighted slipped 33.53 points or 0.29% to 11,725.31 and KOSPI Index trimmed 14.93 points or 0.68% to 2,195.41.

On the flip side, Nikkei 225 up 81.96 points or 0.35% to 23,482.66, Jakarta Composite lifted by 5.35 points or 0.09% to 5,934.14 and Shanghai increased 13.91 points 0.47% to 2,989.31.

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×