Asian markets trade mostly bullish in early deals on Friday

20 May 2022 Evaluate
Most of the Asian equity benchmarks traded bullish in early deals on Friday, due to the increased risk appetite in the market with the technical buying after previous session’s sharp sell off on worries over surging inflation and supply chain chaos. Investors trivialized negative cues from Wall Street followed by the positive outlook in COVID-19 restrictions gradual withdrawal in China with significant drop in active viral infections. Japanese equities rebounded modestly from previous sessional losses, in tandem with gains in exporters amid weaker local currency yen. Meanwhile, Japan’s consumer prices soared by 2.5% for April, exceeded expectations of 2.4%, which rose from March’s 1.2%. On a monthly basis, overall inflation rose 0.4% - unchanged from the March reading. Shanghai also got buoyed after its central bank trims key interest rate to stem its covid-hit economy. Prolonged virus lockdowns had restricted supply chains, quelled demand and stalled manufacturing in the last major economy welded to a 'zero-Covid' approach to the pandemic.

Nikkei 225 surged by 320.43 points or 1.21% to 26,723.27, Straight times lifted by 41.00 points or 1.28% to 3,231.71, Hang Seng enlarged by 368.95 points or 1.83% to 20,489.63, Taiwan Weighted widened by 128.84 points or 0.80% to 16,149.16, KOSPI soared by 47.60 points or 1.84% to 2,639.94, Jakarta Composite increased by 119.11 points or 1.75% to 6,942.45, Shanghai Composite supported by 34.44 points or 1.11% to 3,131.40 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI higher by 1.80 points or 0.12% to 1,551.21.

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