Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday due to easing worries of fallout from the Omicron coronavirus variant after data indicated that both Merck's and Pfizer's Covid-19 antiviral pills were effective against the Omicron variant. Separate studies have indicated the new strain Omicron poses a lower risk of severe disease and hospitalization than the Delta variant. Meanwhile, Wall Street’s overnight gains as another batch of upbeat U.S. economic data, including improved consumer sentiment, increased new home sales and better-than-expected durable goods sales also helped bolster market sentiments. Hong Kong shares gained after troubled Chinese developer China Evergrande Group said it would actively engage with offshore creditors following its recent missed debt repayments. However, Chinese shares fell due to worries of a local outbreak of Covid-19 weighed on some business operations and investor sentiment. Japanese shares ended on a flat note with negative bias as investors fretted on news that Tokyo’s first community spread of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus was confirmed on Christmas Eve.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,618.05 | -25.29 | -0.69 |
Hang Seng | 23,223.76 | 30.12 | 0.13 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,562.90 | 7.35 | 0.11 |
KLSE Composite | 1,500.32 | 7.73 | 0.52 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,782.59 | -15.78 | -0.05 |
Straits Times | 3,108.28 | 11.47 | 0.37 |
KOSPI Composite | 3,012.43 | 14.26 | 0.48 |
Taiwan Weighted | 17,961.64 | 14.98 | 0.08 |
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