Asian markets ended mostly higher on Wednesday as investors were cheered by upbeat manufacturing data from major economies and that fueling expectations of a global recovery, even though the corona virus pandemic has regions around the globe battling recessions. Japanese shares ended up as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga gathered support to be the next prime minister at a leadership election on September 14. Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Masazumi Wakatabe said the central bank must maintain its strong commitment to achieve its 2 percent inflation target and consider ways to improve its monetary policy as the corona virus pandemic stokes fears of deflation. However, Chinese shares ended lower after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration would take further moves in the coming days and weeks to restrict the activities of Chinese companies for the benefit of the US economy.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,404.80 | -5.81 | -0.17 |
Hang Seng | 25,120.09 | -64.76 | -0.26 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,311.97 | 1.29 | 0.02 |
KLSE Composite | 1,537.54 | 16.11 | 1.06 |
Nikkei 225 | 23,247.15 | 109.08 | 0.47 |
Straits Times | 2,539.94 | 1.39 | 0.05 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,364.37 | 14.82 | 0.63 |
Taiwan Weighted | 12,699.50 | -3.78 | -0.03 |
