Asian markets settled mostly higher on Monday, boosted by optimism that the US central bank would slow the pace of monetary policy tightening in the second half of the year. Moreover, Shanghai's stimulus measures and decision to ease Covid-19 curbs also supported market sentiments. Japanese shares gained on upbeat risk sentiment following a surge on Wall Street late last week after inflation worries ebbed. The core US personal consumption expenditure price index closely watched by the US Federal Reserve slowed to 4.9 percent in April from 5.2 percent in March. Seoul shares extended gains on hopes for economic recovery in China, while the South Korean won rose to the highest in over one month to the US dollar.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,149.06 | 18.82 | 0.60 |
Hang Seng | 21,123.93 | 426.57 | 2.06 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,037.56 | 11.30 | 0.16 |
KLSE Composite | 1,543.02 | -3.74 | -0.24 |
Nikkei 225 | 27,369.43 | 587.75 | 2.19 |
Straits Times | 3,238.92 | 8.37 | 0.26 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,669.66 | 31.61 | 1.20 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,610.62 | 344.40 | 2.12 |
