Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday, tracking Wall Street gains overnight with investors' optimism over the passing of the $1.9 trillion US stimulus package and after data showing a less than expected rise in jobless claims last week. Market sentiments improved further after a dovish European Central Bank (ECB) meeting prompted a retreat in bond yields and eased global concerns about rising inflation. Chinese shares ended higher despite worries about the latest Sino-US tensions after the Jeo Biden administration amended licenses for companies to sell to telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies. Further, Japanese shares gained with optimism about a swifter economic recovery from the pandemic following encouraging US labor market data and easing bond yields.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,453.08 | 16.25 | 0.47 |
Hang Seng | 28,739.72 | -645.89 | -2.20 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,358.21 | 93.53 | 1.49 |
KLSE Composite | 1,615.69 | -13.72 | -0.84 |
Nikkei 225 | 29,717.83 | 506.19 | 1.73 |
Straits Times | 3,095.22 | -10.79 | -0.35 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,054.39 | 40.69 | 1.35 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,255.18 | 75.62 | 0.47 |
