Asian markets ended lower on Friday as an overnight hike in long-term US Treasury yields on expectations for faster economic recovery and inflation weighed market sentiments. Moreover, declining oil prices in line with demand worries, rising Covid-19 cases and strengthening US dollar has also added further pressure on market sentiments. Japanese shares closed sharply down after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) said it would only buy Topix-linked exchange traded funds in its monetary easing program, while the Japanese yen dipped briefly after the BoJ widened its target band for the benchmark yield in a decision that was in line with market expectations.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,404.66 | -58.41 | -1.69 |
Hang Seng | 28,990.94 | -414.78 | -1.41 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,356.16 | 8.33 | 0.13 |
KLSE Composite | 1,626.19 | -1.80 | -0.11 |
Nikkei 225 | 29,792.05 | -424.70 | -1.41 |
Straits Times | 3,134.54 | -3.12 | -0.10 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,039.53 | -26.48 | -0.86 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,070.24 | -217.60 | -1.34 |
