Asian markets ended mostly higher on the first trading day of the year as the US Congress backed a deal to avert a fiscal cliff of drastic tax rises and spending cuts in an upbeat start to the year for regional markets. Hong Kong closed higher after touching 19-month high as China's manufacturing sector continued to grow. Moreover, benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia posted solid gains.
Markets in Japan and China remained shut for public holidays and will reopen on Friday.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | - | - | - |
Hang Seng | 23,311.98 | 655.06 | 2.89 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,346.48 | 29.79 | 0.69 |
KLSE Composite | 1,674.72 | -14.23 | -0.84 |
Nikkei 225 | - | - | - |
Straits Times | 3,201.74 | 34.66 | 1.09 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,031.10 | 34.05 | 1.71 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7779.22 | 79.72 | 1.04 |
