Asian markets ended mostly lower on Thursday, ahead of the scheduled re-opening of Cypriot banks amid increasing worries about the euro-zone financial situation. Japan’s Nikkei plunged sharply as yen's rise against the US dollar pressurized the market. Chinese market went home with red mark, hurting Hong Kong markets, weighted down by banks after they were ordered to tighten control over wealth management products (WMP) and improve transparency. Meanwhile, investors traded cautiously as Italy's politicians were still unable to form a government weeks after an election.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,236.30 | -64.96 | -2.82 |
Hang Seng | 22,299.63 | -165.19 | -0.74 |
Jakarta Composite | 4,940.99 | 12.88 | 0.26 |
KLSE Composite | 1,674.04 | 6.47 | 0.39 |
Nikkei 225 | 12,335.96 | -157.83 | -1.26 |
Straits Times | 3,308.10 | -4.93 | -0.15 |
KOSPI Composite | 1,993.52 | 0.08 | - |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,866.88 | -27.24 | -0.35 |