Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday amid concerns that aggressive policy tightening by US Federal Reserve could lead to more capital outflows from emerging markets. The Fed delivered the much anticipated 75 basis point rate hike overnight and has signaled more increases are on the way as it tries to tackle the worst inflation that is running at a 40-year high. While, the Swiss National Bank raised its policy interest rate with a surprise 50 basis point hike for the first time in 15 years. Japanese shares gained ahead of Friday's BoJ meeting, where the central bank is expected to stick to its easy-money policy even in the face of rising inflation. Japan's trade deficit soared to 2.4 trillion yen ($18 billion) in May, the biggest trade deficit the country has seen since January 2014.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,285.38 | -20.03 | -0.61 |
Hang Seng | 20,845.43 | -462.78 | -2.17 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,050.33 | 43.28 | 0.62 |
KLSE Composite | 1,472.77 | 13.72 | 0.94 |
Nikkei 225 | 26,431.20 | 105.04 | 0.40 |
Straits Times | 3,097.43 | -8.42 | -0.27 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,451.41 | 4.03 | 0.16 |
Taiwan Weighted | 15,838.61 | -160.64 | -1.00 |
