Asian markets trade mostly lower in early deals on Thursday

02 Apr 2020 Evaluate

Most of the Asian equity benchmarks are trading lower in early deals on Thursday, with the mounting evidence that the COVID- 19 was sending the global economy into a deep recession. The markets across the globe tumble with the rising number of COVID-19 cases and climbing death tolls. White House officials have warned of nearly a quarter million deaths in the US from COVID-19. Japan's Nikkei is declining in line with the negative cues from Wall Street overnight and the safe haven yen has advanced. Lingering concerns about the rising number of coronavirus infections in Tokyo and uncertainty about the timing of a lockdown in the Japanese capital city also weighed on sentiment. Among the other Asian markets, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia are in negative territory. However, South Korea, Shanghai and Malaysia are trading higher.

Nikkei 225 down by 145.78 points, 0.81% to 17,919.63, Straits Times declined by 22.36 points or 0.92% to 2,417.91, Hang Seng slipped by 20.77 points or 0.09% to 23,065.02, and Jakarta Composite narrowed by 5.56 points or 0.12% to 4,460.48.

On the flip side, KOSPI Index widened by 9.35 points or 0.55% to 1,694.81,Shanghai up by 9.12 points or 0.33% to 2,743.64, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI rose by 4.68 points or 0.35% to 1,327.34.

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