Asian equities trade firm as US clears budget bill

02 Jan 2013 Evaluate

Most of the Asian equity indices kick started the New Year in positive territory, after a day of break, as US Senate passed a budget bill to avoid the looming fiscal cliff of $600bn tax hikes and spending cuts. But gains were tentative in thin trade as investors waited cautiously to see if the House of Representatives would pass the Senate compromise bill. Back on regional turf, Hong Kong remained the top performer in the day’s trade so far, garnering gains of about two per cent, responding to a third straight monthly expansion in China’s manufacturing sector.

Hang Seng soared 433.02 points or 1.91% to 23,089.94, Jakarta Composite rose 33.15 points or 0.77% to 4,349.84, Straits Times surged 34.46 points or 1.09% to 3,201.54, KOSPI Composite added 28.28 points or 1.42% to 2,025.33 and Taiwan Weighted was up by 83.69 points or 1.09% to 7,783.19.

On the flip side, KLSE Composite was down by 12.09 points or 0.72% to 1,676.86.

Markets in Japan and China are closed for trade on account of public holidays and will reopen on Friday.

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