Asian markets finished mostly lower on Monday as surging corona virus infections and worries about worsening Sino-US relations kept the market sentiments under pressure. Japanese shares declined as investors booked profits after gains on hopes of big US stimulus spending by Biden Administration. However, Chinese shares ended higher on optimism over swift economic recovery after better-than-expected growth and industrial production data. China's GDP climbed 6.5 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2020 against expectations for an increase of 6.1% and up from 4.9% in the three months prior. Industrial production jumped an annual 7.3% in December against forecasts for 6.9% and up from 7% in November.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,596.22 | 29.84 | 0.84 |
Hang Seng | 28,862.77 | 288.91 | 1.01 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,389.83 | 16.42 | 0.26 |
KLSE Composite | 1,609.52 | -17.49 | -1.07 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,242.21 | -276.97 | -0.97 |
Straits Times | 2,990.40 | -14.47 | -0.48 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,013.93 | -71.97 | -2.33 |
Taiwan Weighted | 15,612.00 | -4.39 | -0.03 |
