Asian markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday as sinking crude oil prices and concerns about the return of corona-virus lockdowns in Europe dented investor hopes of global economic recovery. Moreover, Europe’s sluggish vaccination campaign too pressurizing market sentiments. Chinese shares declined as policy tightening concerns persisted, while escalating tensions between China and major western nations too weighed on investor sentiments. Japanese shares ended lower following weak cues from Wall Street overnight. While members of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy board said that it would maintain stimulus in the face of the corona-virus crisis as long as necessary, minutes from the bank's meeting on January 20 and 21 revealed on Wednesday.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,367.06 | -44.45 | -1.30 |
Hang Seng | 27,918.14 | -579.24 | -2.03 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,156.14 | -96.57 | -1.54 |
KLSE Composite | 1,602.40 | 7.11 | 0.45 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,405.52 | -590.40 | -2.04 |
Straits Times | 3,133.31 | 1.57 | 0.05 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,996.35 | -8.39 | -0.28 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,032.12 | -145.47 | -0.90 |
