Asian markets trade mostly lower in early deals on Wednesday

24 Mar 2021 Evaluate

Most of Asian equity benchmarks traded lower in early deals on Wednesday following negative cues from Wall Street overnight. Investors are turned cautious after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Congress that a recovery in the US economy is far from complete and more must be done to limit the economic damage caused by the corona-virus pandemic. Moreover, renewed corona-virus concerns due to extension of lockdown measures in several countries in Europe along with the sanctions between China and the West also rattled investors. Japanese shares fell in line with declining oil prices, while lingering doubts about the safety of a popular corona-virus vaccine curbed expectations for a rebound in economic growth. Among the Asian markets, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, China, Singapore, Taiwan, are in negative territory. Bucking the trend, Malaysia is in higher note.

Nikkei 225 down by 510.19 points 1.76% to 28,485.73, Straits Times dipped by 8.08 points or 0.26% to 3,123.66, Hang Seng decreased by 652.75 points or 2.29% to 27,844.63, Taiwan Weighted narrowed 142.04 points or 0.88% to 16,035.55, Jakarta Composite diminished 56.77 points 0.91% to 6,195.94, Shanghai Composite slipped by 48.76 points or 1.43% to 3,362.75, and KOSPI Index lower 12.05 points 0.4% to 2,992.69.

On the flip side, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI up by 2.87 points or 0.18% to 1,598.16.

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