Asian markets ended mixed on Friday as strong US jobless claims data fuelled concerns about faster-than-expected tightening by the US Federal Reserve. Data showed that weekly initial jobless claims fell to a seasonally adjusted 187,000 last week, the lowest level since September 1969. Meanwhile, Western leaders meeting in Brussels promised more sanctions on Russia and President Vladimir Putin tried to prop up Moscow’s sinking ruble by threatening to require Europe to use it to pay for gas exports, also adding pressure on market sentiments. Seoul shares gained marginally despite concerns around North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile launch and the Ukraine-Russia war.
Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,212.24 | -38.02 | -1.17 |
Hang Seng | 21,404.88 | -541.07 | -2.47 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,002.53 | -47.16 | -0.67 |
KLSE Composite | 1,603.30 | 4.33 | 0.27 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,149.84 | 39.45 | 0.14 |
Straits Times | 3,413.69 | 13.99 | 0.41 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,729.98 | 0.32 | 0.01 |
Taiwan Weighted | 17,676.95 | -22.11 | -0.12 |
