Asian markets ended mostly higher on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s statement that inflation will moderate and that the central bank plans to maintain its current monetary policies. Chinese shares ended higher after better-than-expected retail sales in June, while hoping for more government policy support after the economic growth in the second quarter missed expectations. Retail sales expanded 12.1 percent year-on-year, beating expectations for 11 percent after rising 12.4 percent in May. However, Japanese shares declined on investors’ caution ahead of earnings, with some eyeing on Covid-19 cases surge a week before the 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,564.59 | 36.09 | 1.02 |
Hang Seng | 27,996.27 | 208.81 | 0.75 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,046.75 | 67.53 | 1.13 |
KLSE Composite | 1,520.82 | 8.50 | 0.56 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,279.09 | -329.40 | -1.15 |
Straits Times | 3,139.98 | -13.17 | -0.42 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,286.22 | 21.41 | 0.66 |
Taiwan Weighted | 18,034.19 | 188.44 | 1.06 |
