Most Asian markets closed lower on Thursday as Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's credit rating which overshadowed an upbeat assessment of the US economy by the Federal Reserve. However, Hong Kong markets went home with green mark as a large state-owned shareholder purchased shares in the country’s top four banks. Japan's Nikkei hits two months low on Thursday on increased worries that upcoming corporate earnings will be weak after the U.S. results season got off to a slow start. South Korea’s Kospi ended lower amid alternate bouts of buying and selling, after the Bank of Korea cut its policy interest rate by a quarter-point. Seoul shares extended earlier losses for a fourth consecutive session, weighed down by concerns about China's slowing growth.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,102.87 | -17.07 | -0.81 |
Hang Seng | 20,999.05 | 79.45 | 0.38 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,284.97 | 4.96 | 0.12 |
KLSE Composite | 1,655.47 | -3.93 | -0.24 |
Nikkei 225 | 8,546.78 | -49.45 | -0.58 |
Straits Times | 3,032.66 | -1.15 | -0.04 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,933.09 | -15.13 | -0.78 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,451.72 | -140.29 | -1.85 |