Asian markets ended mostly higher on Wednesday, supported by signs of progress in stimulus talks in the United States as well as the vaccination rollout. The US Food and Drug Administration said that US biotech company Moderna's vaccine candidate is safe and effective for preventing Covid-19. Japanese shares ended a tad higher after tech giant Apple's suppliers rising on report that Apple plans to increase iPhone production by about 30 percent in the first half of 2021. On the economic front, the latest survey from Jibun Bank revealed that the manufacturing sector in Japan continued to contract in November, albeit at a slower pace, with a manufacturing PMI score of 49.7, up from 49.0 in the previous month. Chinese shares ended flat after Chinese chipmaker SMIC said it had become aware of co-CEO Mong Song Liang's intention of conditional resignation and as SMIC’s stock was set to be removed from MSCI indexes.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,366.98 | -0.25 | -0.01 |
Hang Seng | 26,460.29 | 253.00 | 0.97 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,118.40 | 108.27 | 1.80 |
KLSE Composite | 1,681.41 | 7.39 | 0.44 |
Nikkei 225 | 26,757.40 | 69.56 | 0.26 |
Straits Times | 2,872.80 | 16.08 | 0.56 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,771.79 | 14.97 | 0.54 |
Taiwan Weighted | 14,304.46 | 235.94 | 1.68 |
