Asian markets ended mostly higher on Wednesday, despite weakness in Wall Street overnight due to uncertainty over increasing the size of the individual stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600. While, the start of mass Covid-19 vaccination drives in several countries has fueled recovery hopes. Chinese shares ended higher amid expectations of a strong economic recovery next year. Though, Japanese shares finished lower as investors booked profits after Nikkei index hits 30-year high on Tuesday. Growing worries over spiking corona virus cases as well as confirmation of new virus strains in Japan that were first detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa also put pressure on Japanese markets.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,414.45 | 35.41 | 1.05 |
Hang Seng | 27,147.11 | 578.62 | 2.18 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,979.07 | -57.10 | -0.95 |
KLSE Composite | 1,644.41 | 9.42 | 0.58 |
Nikkei 225 | 27,444.17 | -123.98 | -0.45 |
Straits Times | 2,869.22 | 21.08 | 0.74 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,873.47 | 52.96 | 1.88 |
Taiwan Weighted | 14,687.70 | 215.65 | 1.49 |
