Asian markets ended lower on Thursday, tracking an overnight selloff in Wall Street after the Federal Open Market Committee's January monetary policy decision. Federal Reserve leaves its benchmark interest rates and asset purchases unchanged, amid fresh signs the US economic recovery from the corona virus pandemic is slowing. Further, fears about the impact of new corona virus strains, vaccine delays and uncertainties about a $1.9 trillion US stimulus package also weighing on market sentiments. Chinese shares ended down amid nagging worries over policy tightening. Further, Japanese shares settled lower as technology stocks succumbed to heavy selling pressure after recent rally.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,505.18 | -68.16 | -1.91 |
Hang Seng | 28,550.77 | -746.76 | -2.55 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,979.39 | -129.78 | -2.12 |
KLSE Composite | - | - | - |
Nikkei 225 | 28,197.42 | -437.79 | -1.53 |
Straits Times | 2,920.30 | -38.33 | -1.30 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,069.05 | -53.51 | -1.71 |
Taiwan Weighted | 15,415.88 | -285.57 | -1.82 |
