The Asian markets have made a soft start as there is cautiousness across the region ahead of the US presidential election and China’s once-in-a-decade leadership change later this week, which is likely to see in the selection of Xi Jinping to succeed President Hu Jintao. The Chinese market has declined the most in a week, before economic data and on earnings concern. Meanwhile, Chinese and Japanese officials had met to discuss a territorial dispute that has damaged relations between Asia’s two biggest economies.
Shanghai Composite plunged by 29.84 points or 1.41% to 2,084.19, Hang Seng lost 164.39 points or 0.75% to 21,842.01, KLSE Composite was down by 8.71 points or 0.53% to 1,645.17, Nikkei 225 lost 41.31 points or 0.46% to 8,966.13, Straits Times declined by 8.27 points or 0.28% to 3,022.23 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 3.71 points or 0.05% to 7,182.75.
On the other hand, Jakarta Composite gained 2.85 points or 0.09% to 4,306.68 and Kospi Composite was up by 4.33 points or 0.23% to 1,912.52.
