Asian markets settled mostly higher on Wednesday tracking overnight gains in Wall Street followed by the strong retail sales numbers. Data showed that retail sales in the US increased 0.9 percent month-on-month in April of 2022 following an upwardly revised 1.4 percent surge in March and matching market forecasts. Japanese shares gained even as the economy contracted 1 percent year-on-year and 0.2 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of 2022. Although, Chinese shares declined by fears that policies announced by Beijing would not be enough to revive the coronavirus-battered economy.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,085.98 | -7.72 | -0.25 |
Hang Seng | 20,644.28 | 41.76 | 0.20 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,793.41 | 148.94 | 2.24 |
KLSE Composite | 1,554.91 | 6.31 | 0.41 |
Nikkei 225 | 26,911.20 | 251.45 | 0.94 |
Straits Times | 3,225.35 | 23.46 | 0.73 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,625.98 | 5.54 | 0.21 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,296.86 | 240.77 | 1.50 |