Asian markets settled mostly higher on Friday tracking Wall Street gains overnight amid hopes that the US central bank may be able to get inflation back under control without pushing the economy into a recession. US Federal Reserve governors Christopher Waller and St. Louis Fed President James Bullard both backed another big interest rate rise in July but said they think recession fears are overblown. Meanwhile, investors are awaiting US non-farm payrolls report due later in the day. Japanese shares gave up most gains and the safe haven yen strengthened after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot at during an election campaign in western Japan's Nara city. He has passed away. However, Chinese shares declined despite expectations of China’s stimulus package. Concerns over rising COVID-19 cases in China make investors cautious.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,356.08 | -8.32 | -0.25 |
Hang Seng | 21,725.78 | 82.20 | 0.38 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,740.22 | 87.63 | 1.32 |
KLSE Composite | 1,425.79 | 7.10 | 0.50 |
Nikkei 225 | 26,517.19 | 26.66 | 0.10 |
Straits Times | 3,131.26 | 1.86 | 0.06 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,350.61 | 16.34 | 0.70 |
Taiwan Weighted | 14,464.53 | 128.26 | 0.89 |
