Most Asian markets went home with a green mark on Wednesday with an improved economic outlook, lifting stocks in Hong Kong and Australia to near two-year highs. Japan's Nikkei closed with strong gains attaining its highest closing since late April 2010, as the yen continued to weaken against the U.S. dollar. South Korea's Kospi ended higher, after the government said manufacturing output rose 0.8% in December from November. Meanwhile, investors looked optimistic ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting later in the day.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,382.47 | 23.50 | 1.00 |
Hang Seng | 23,822.06 | 166.89 | 0.71 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,452.98 | 13.95 | 0.31 |
KLSE Composite | 1,627.73 | -9.61 | -0.59 |
Nikkei 225 | 11,113.95 | 247.23 | 2.28 |
Straits Times | 3,285.90 | 26.15 | 0.80 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,964.43 | 8.47 | 0.43 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,832.98 | 30.98 | 0.40 |
