Asian markets ended higher on Wednesday tracking strong gains in Wall Street stocks overnight ahead of US inflation data due Thursday that might influence the pace of Fed tightening. Stabilizing oil prices after the recent surge also uplifted market sentiments. Japanese shares settled higher, led by gains in the paper & pulp, railway & bus and real estate sectors, as investors hunted for companies that reported strong results as the earnings season nears its peak. Chinese shares gained despite investors’ worries over the impact of US sanctions. Moreover, Seoul shares improved amid hopes of strong corporate earnings in the fourth quarter.
Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,479.95 | 27.32 | 0.79 |
Hang Seng | 24,829.99 | 500.50 | 2.06 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,834.61 | 45.09 | 0.66 |
KLSE Composite | 1,551.51 | 21.42 | 1.40 |
Nikkei 225 | 27,579.87 | 295.35 | 1.08 |
Straits Times | 3,420.04 | 18.30 | 0.54 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,768.85 | 22.38 | 0.81 |
Taiwan Weighted | 18,151.76 | 185.20 | 1.03 |