Asian markets finished mostly in green on Wednesday, whetted by the upbeat forecast report for this year by International Monetary Fund projecting a 6% growth from its earlier estimate of 5.5%, strongest global expansion in four decades, pointing additional fiscal measures by advanced economies and the rollout of vaccines. However, stock markets in China and Hong Kong drifted lower citing concerns over policy tightening. Global investors also awaited for more cues on interest rates ahead to the release of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy meeting later in the day.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,479.63 | -3.34 | -0.10 |
Hang Seng | 28,674.80 | -263.94 | -0.91 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,036.62 | 33.85 | 0.56 |
KLSE Composite | 1,581.74 | 2.83 | 0.18 |
Nikkei 225 | 29,730.79 | 34.16 | 0.12 |
Straits Times | 3,195.76 | -11.87 | -0.37 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,137.41 | 10.33 | 0.33 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,815.36 | 75.49 | 0.45 |