Asian markets ended on a mixed note on Wednesday as US Fed Chair Jerome Powell said he expects 2023 to be a year of significant declines in inflation. Chinese shares dropped amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing. China has declined a US request for a phone call between defense chiefs on Saturday soon after an American fighter jet shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. Japanese shares declined marginally following a slew of weak earnings reports. Meanwhile, data showed Japan's current account surplus nearly halved in 2022 from last year to hit its lowest level in eight years.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,232.11 | -15.98 | -0.49 |
Hang Seng | 21,283.52 | -15.18 | -0.07 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,940.12 | 4.82 | 0.07 |
KLSE Composite | 1,470.75 | -5.63 | -0.38 |
Nikkei 225 | 27,606.46 | -79.01 | -0.29 |
Straits Times | 3,388.52 | 7.68 | 0.23 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,483.64 | 31.93 | 1.29 |
Taiwan Weighted | 15,618.17 | 217.26 | 1.41 |
