Asian markets settled mostly lower on Friday following overnight falls in US shares, while hawkish comments from the US Federal Reserve officials and recession fears also dampened market sentiments. Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker said the central bank would keep raising rates for a while to curb inflation. Japanese shares declined as Japan's central bank conducted emergency bond buying operations for a second day in a move to curb elevated yields. Hong Kong shares slipped amid renewed concerns over a US blockade on semiconductor exports to China. However, Chinese shares gained after news that Chinese authorities are considering reducing the duration of quarantine for inbound visitors. Investors are also awaiting the highly anticipated decision that President Xi Jinping would secure an unprecedented third term as China's president and general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,038.93 | 3.88 | 0.13 |
Hang Seng | 16,211.12 | -69.10 | -0.42 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,017.77 | 37.12 | 0.53 |
KLSE Composite | 1,446.42 | 8.70 | 0.61 |
Nikkei 225 | 26,890.58 | -116.38 | -0.43 |
Straits Times | 2,969.95 | -52.75 | -1.75 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,213.12 | -4.97 | -0.22 |
Taiwan Weighted | 12,819.20 | -126.90 | -0.98 |
