Asian markets ended mostly on a firm note on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street overnight as improved US economic data fuels optimism about the US economic recovery, while US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the above-normal inflation will last through 2021. Data showed that the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest since mid-March 2020, and beating estimates. Japanese shares jumped by tracking progress in the country’s vaccination drive, which lifted risk appetite on prospects of a quick economic recovery. Meanwhile, the Japanese government plans to extend the Covid-19 state of emergency covering Tokyo and eight other prefectures for three weeks until June 20. However, Chinese shares declined amid lingering worries about policy tightening and Sino-US tensions. The US Senate advanced a sweeping package of legislation intended to boost the country's ability to compete better with Chinese technology.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,600.78 | -8.07 | -0.22 |
Hang Seng | 29,124.41 | 11.21 | 0.04 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,848.62 | 6.79 | 0.12 |
KLSE Composite | 1,594.44 | 0.54 | 0.03 |
Nikkei 225 | 29,149.41 | 600.40 | 2.10 |
Straits Times | 3,178.55 | 13.73 | 0.43 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,188.73 | 23.22 | 0.73 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,870.86 | 269.25 | 1.62 |
