Most of the Asian equity indices ended the trade in the negative terrain on last trading day of the week as cautious traders shrugged off strong US growth data and news the German parliament had approved a crucial EU bailout package. Moreover, Chinese benchmark edged lower on Friday to the lowest level in two and half years, winding up the third quarter with a 14.6 percent loss, as investors dumped financial and export-related stocks amid growing signs of an economic slowdown. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturing sector contracted for a third consecutive month in September, indicated that the world’s second-largest economy is not protected to global headwinds.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,359.22 | -6.12 | -0.26 |
Hang Seng | 17,592.41 | -418.65 | -2.32 |
Jakarta Composite | 3,549.03 | 11.85 | 0.34 |
KLSE Composite | 1,387.13 | -0.33 | -0.02 |
Nikkei 225 | 8,700.29 | -0.94 | -0.01 |
Straits Times | 2,675.16 | -32.97 | -1.22 |
Seoul Composite | 1,769.65 | 0.36 | 0.02 |
Taiwan Weighted | 7,225.38 | 42.77 | 0.60 |