Asian markets ended mostly lower on Thursday with concerns over the fresh wave of Covid-19 infections in several Asian countries. Chinese shares settled down after Chinese officials flagged the possibility of a reserve requirement ratio cut to support the economy, while China's crackdown on technology companies too hitting the markets again today. Hong Kong shares dropped as tech firms tumbled amid persistent regulatory fears. Malaysian shares declined after the biggest political party of the country's ruling coalition called for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign for failing to manage the Covid-19 pandemic. South Korean shares fell as the country reported its highest ever one-day rise in new Covid-19 cases, which prompting authorities to consider imposing a semi-lockdown in the capital Seoul. Japanese shares diminished as the country’s plan to reintroduce a state of emergency for Tokyo to contain coronavirus infections ahead of Olympics.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,525.50 | -28.22 | -0.79 |
Hang Seng | 27,153.13 | -807.49 | -2.89 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,039.90 | -4.14 | -0.07 |
KLSE Composite | 1,508.71 | -21.44 | -1.40 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,118.03 | -248.92 | -0.88 |
Straits Times | 3,107.59 | -34.01 | -1.08 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,252.68 | -32.66 | -0.99 |
Taiwan Weighted | 17,866.09 | 15.40 | 0.09 |
