Asian equity markets extended earlier sessions gains and ended higher on Friday with Japan’s Nikkei touching a fresh yearly high for a second consecutive session on the back of persistent weakness in the yen. Shanghai Composite went home with strong gains as banking stock rallied on policymakers' supportive stance towards financial reforms. Investors were expecting some major cues from the US fiscal cliff talks this weekend. Kospi Composite closed higher but Korean automakers were weighed down by the lower yen which gives their Japanese rivals a competitive edge in exports.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,233.25 | 27.35 | 1.24 |
Hang Seng | 22,666.59 | 46.81 | 0.21 |
Jakarta Composite | 4316.69 | 34.83 | 0.81 |
KLSE Composite | 1,681.33 | 7.17 | 0.43 |
Nikkei 225 | 10,395.18 | 72.20 | 0.70 |
Straits Times | 3,191.80 | 7.87 | 0.25 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,997.05 | 9.70 | 0.49 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,699.50 | 51.09 | 0.67 |
