Asian markets trade mostly lower in early deals on Thursday

22 Oct 2020 Evaluate
Most of the Asian equity benchmarks are trading lower on Thursday, retraced with the losses  wallstreet overnight amid impasse in US fiscal stimulus package to cushion the economy from the coronavirus-induced slump, as a deadline to reach the deal came closer. Moreover, International Monetary Fund or IMF lowered its 2020 growth forecast for the Asia-Pacific region, also dampened the investor sentiments. Oil shares traded lower following crude oil price fall overnight followed by the concerns over a drop in energy demand after data from Energy Information Administration or EIA showed smaller than expected drop in oil stockpiles and an increase in gasoline inventories. Japan’s Nikkei, is easing with the decline in exporting and stronger yen. Besides, profit taking and risk aversion ahead to events such as the US election and earnings results at home and abroad also added down side in Nikkei. Among the Asian markets, Japan, Singapore, China, Indonesia, and South Korea, are in downward trend. Bucking the trend, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia are in positive side.

Nikkei 225 down by 135.55 points, 0.57% to 23,503.91, Straits Times dipped by 6.29 points 0.25% to 2,519.32, KOSPI Index slipped 23.09 points or 0.97% to 2,347.77, Shanghai Composite narrowed by 21.81 points or 0.66% to 3,303.21, and Jakarta Composite decreased by 16.43 points or 0.32% to 5,080.02.

On the flip side, Hang Seng up by 16.69 points or 0.07% to 24,771.11, Taiwan Weighted rose 2.89 points 0.02% to 12,880.14, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI widened by 0.20 points or 0.01% to 1,492.60.

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