Asian markets settled mostly lower on Wednesday, tracking Wall Street sell off overnight after US Chair Powell warned that US interest rate might need to go up faster and higher than expected to get inflation under control. Meanwhile, investors are awaiting the release of US nonfarm payrolls report later in the week and next week's inflation figures. Chinese shares declined after trade data showed Chinese imports and exports both shrank in the first two months of the year that has clouded the outlook for the Chinese economy. However, Japanese shares gained as a weakening yen buoyed exporters.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,283.25 | -1.85 | -0.06 |
Hang Seng | 20,051.25 | -483.23 | -2.41 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,776.37 | 9.61 | 0.14 |
KLSE Composite | 1,454.66 | -4.01 | -0.27 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,444.19 | 135.03 | 0.47 |
Straits Times | 3,226.86 | -18.41 | -0.57 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,431.91 | -31.44 | -1.29 |
Taiwan Weighted | 15,818.20 | -39.69 | -0.25 |
