Asian Markets trade mostly higher in early deals on Friday

24 Dec 2021 Evaluate
Most of the Asian equity benchmarks traded higher in early deals on Friday, cheered with the positive finish at Wall Street overnight followed by upbeat economic data. Market sentiments got buoyed with the optimism over global economic recovery trivializing Omicron outbreak. Worries over the Omicron spread aggravated after the reports that it is less likely to land patients in hospital than the delta variant. Additionally, Merck's Covid-19 pill Molnupiravir received emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration spurring risk sentiments. Market activity however remained thinned as some markets set to close early due to Christmas Eve. Japan’s Nikkei extended gains to fourth straight session with the optimism over economic recovery and lift in technological and aircraft stocks. Some of the major gainers in Nikkei were Globalway with 17% gain and Japan Electronic with rise of 7%.  Gains among Asian indices were led by KOSPI in the session, with major gains from technology stocks and automobile producers. Among the Asian stocks, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Indonesia are in positive note. Bucking the trend China and Malaysia are lower.

Nikkei 225 up by 15.20 points or 0.05% to 28,813.57, Straight times rose by 11.47 points or 0.37% to 3,108.28, Hang Seng hiked by 30.12 points or 0.13% to 23,223.76, Taiwan Weighted lifted by 23.18 points or 0.13% to 17,969.84, KOSPI climbed by 18.23 points or 0.61% to 3,016.40 and Jakarta Composite jumped by 24.38  points or 0.37% to 6,579.93.

On the flip side, Shanghai Composite down by 13.73 points or 0.38% to 3,629.61 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI lower by 1.20 points or 0.08% to 1,515.22

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