Asian markets ended lower on Friday following a softer-than-expected Chinese Purchasing Managers' Index. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the recovery in China's manufacturing and services sectors had slowed slightly, with manufacturing PMI at 51.1 in April from 51.9 in March, and non-manufacturing PMI at 54.9 in April from 56.3 in March. Besides, fears of a fresh surge in corona-virus infection rates in the countries, particularly India and Japan, too adding pressure on market sentiments. Japanese shares declined on technology firms’ disappointing outlook, while worries about rising new infections in Tokyo and Osaka also hit investor sentiment.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,446.86 | -28.04 | -0.81 |
Hang Seng | 28,724.88 | -578.38 | -1.97 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,995.62 | -17.34 | -0.29 |
KLSE Composite | 1,601.65 | -6.85 | -0.43 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,812.63 | -241.34 | -0.83 |
Straits Times | 3,218.27 | -3.31 | -0.10 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,147.86 | -26.21 | -0.83 |
Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |
