Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday as Chinese Shanghai Composite closed higher after China manufacturing PMI rose to 51.7 in March, from 50.4 in February, which also gave a brief lift to Hong Kong stocks, the Hang Seng Index ended flat in negative territory. South Korea’s Kospi went home with red mark on headlines of more tension with North Korea. Japanese stocks closed higher, supported by expectations of aggressive easing steps from the Bank of Japan under a newly installed management team.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,324.24 | 6.87 | 0.30 |
Hang Seng | 22,225.88 | -30.56 | -0.14 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,802.67 | -28.83 | -0.60 |
KLSE Composite | 1,630.75 | -0.79 | -0.05 |
Nikkei 225 | 12,635.69 | 167.46 | 1.34 |
Straits Times | 3,267.65 | 19.25 | 0.59 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,950.82 | -8.59 | -0.44 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,811.84 | 13.81 | 0.18 |
