Asian markets settled mostly down on Tuesday, despite Wall Street’s positive close overnight. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting cues on whether the US Federal Reserve would continue raising interest rates at their upcoming meeting in May. However, Chinese shares gained after China reported a better-than-expected economic growth in the first quarter with 4.5 percent against 2.9 percent earlier. Japanese shares rose after Japan’s new central bank Governor Kazuo Ueda gave a clear message that the bank will remain a clear outlier in keeping interest rates ultra-low for the time being.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,393.33 | 7.72 | 0.23 |
Hang Seng | 20,650.51 | -131.94 | -0.64 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,821.81 | 34.23 | 0.50 |
KLSE Composite | 1,432.36 | -2.54 | -0.18 |
Nikkei 225 | 28,658.83 | 144.05 | 0.50 |
Straits Times | 3,309.56 | -9.70 | -0.29 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,571.09 | -4.82 | -0.19 |
Taiwan Weighted | 15,869.44 | -94.11 | -0.59 |
