Asian markets settled higher on Friday following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, even with caution ahead of inflation data and a Federal Reserve policy meeting next week. Meanwhile, an increase in initial jobless claims in the United States fuelled optimism that the US Federal Reserve will pause its interest rate hikes. Moreover, Chinese shares gained on optimism over stimulus measures, even as disappointing inflation data weighed on investors' sentiment.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,231.41 | 17.82 | 0.55 |
Hang Seng | 19,389.95 | 90.77 | 0.47 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,694.02 | 27.69 | 0.41 |
KLSE Composite | 1,376.08 | 1.44 | 0.10 |
Nikkei 225 | 32,265.17 | 623.90 | 1.93 |
Straits Times | 3,186.97 | 0.36 | 0.01 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,641.16 | 30.31 | 1.15 |
Taiwan Weighted | 16,886.40 | 152.71 | 0.90 |