Asian markets ended mostly higher on Thursday despite weakness in Wall Street overnight after data showed US consumer prices grew at the fastest pace since 1990 that fuelled concerns about faster monetary policy tightening by the US Federal Reserve. Chinese shares gained as property shares rebounded after reports suggesting the government will take steps to ease the cash crunch for embattled developers. Market sentiments also improved after reports that China’s new bank lending in October exceeded market estimates. Japanese shares rose as investors shrugged off data showing that the country's wholesale inflation hit a four-decade high in October. Meanwhile, investors are eyeing stimulus package from newly elected Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,532.79 | 40.33 | 1.15 |
Hang Seng | 25,247.99 | 251.85 | 1.01 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,691.34 | 8.19 | 0.12 |
KLSE Composite | 1,518.85 | -1.89 | -0.12 |
Nikkei 225 | 29,277.86 | 171.08 | 0.59 |
Straits Times | 3,238.07 | 6.75 | 0.21 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,924.92 | -5.25 | -0.18 |
Taiwan Weighted | 17,452.52 | -107.13 | -0.61 |
