Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday, despite weak finish on Wall Street overnight after reports that US President Joe Biden planned to hike capital gains tax rate to 39.6% from 20% for wealthy individuals. Chinese shares settled higher as President Xi Jinping's renewed green pledge bolstered clean energy stocks, while Hong Kong shares also gained by a sharp rebound in tech stocks. However, Japanese shares ended down after news that the government would declare ‘short and powerful’ states of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures, while disappointing forecast from Nidec too adding to the cautious mood.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,474.17 | 9.06 | 0.26 |
Hang Seng | 29,078.75 | 323.41 | 1.12 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,016.86 | 22.68 | 0.38 |
KLSE Composite | 1,608.43 | 0.70 | 0.04 |
Nikkei 225 | 29,020.63 | -167.54 | -0.57 |
Straits Times | 3,194.04 | 6.26 | 0.20 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,186.10 | 8.58 | 0.27 |
Taiwan Weighted | 17,300.27 | 203.30 | 1.19 |
