Asian markets settled mostly higher on Monday tracking Wall Street gains last week ahead of the upcoming rate-setting meeting by the US Federal Reserve. Market sentiments improved further with renewed bets that the US Fed might slow the pace of rate hikes at its December meeting. Japanese shares gained, despite mixed economic readings. Industrial production in Japan dropped for the first time in four months in September, while retail sales grew more than expected, showing some resilience in the Japanese economy. However, Chinese shares declined after PMI data showed China’s manufacturing sector contracted in September that fuelled concerns about slowing growth in the world’s second-largest economy.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,893.48 | -22.45 | -0.77 |
Hang Seng | 14,687.02 | -176.04 | -1.18 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,098.89 | 42.85 | 0.61 |
KLSE Composite | 1,460.38 | 13.07 | 0.90 |
Nikkei 225 | 27,587.46 | 482.26 | 1.78 |
Straits Times | 3,093.11 | 33.92 | 1.11 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,293.61 | 25.21 | 1.11 |
Taiwan Weighted | 12,949.75 | 161.33 | 1.26 |
