Asian markets ended mostly lower on Thursday, tracking weakness in US stocks overnight following surge in bond yields with expectations that the US central bank will hike interest rates by a hefty 50 basis points at its meetings in May and June. Meanwhile, a slew of US central bank officials, including St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans are scheduled to speak at separate events later in the day. Moreover, worries over the war in Ukraine also adding pressure on market sentiments. Chinese shares declined as the country’s worst coronavirus outbreak clouded the economic growth outlook, despite pledges by Chinese authorities to roll out more policy support.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,236.70 | -46.73 | -1.42 |
Hang Seng | 21,808.98 | -271.54 | -1.23 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,127.37 | 23.15 | 0.33 |
KLSE Composite | 1,600.79 | -3.93 | -0.24 |
Nikkei 225 | 26,888.57 | -461.73 | -1.69 |
Straits Times | 3,406.16 | -16.79 | -0.49 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,695.86 | -39.17 | -1.43 |
Taiwan Weighted | 17,178.63 | -343.87 | -1.96 |
