Asian markets trade mostly lower in early deals on Friday

22 Mar 2024 Evaluate
Most of the Asian markets traded lower in early deals on Friday, pressured by sell off in financial, energy and technological sector stocks. Economic and policy uncertainties in China also weighed down investments. Market participants also closely eyed coming week’s Chinese manufacturing and services activity data for more cues on health of world’s second-largest economy. Hang Seng tumbled with the profit taking in almost all sectors after previous sessional rally and is in track of weekly dip of more than 1%.  Meantime, market also went wart after Hong Kong annual inflation rate climbed by 2.1% in February from January’s 10-month low of 1.7%. Bucking the trend Japan’s Nikkei advanced in the session after four-month high inflation rate of the country backed BoJ’s decision to normalize monetary policy to zero from its negative benchmark rate. 

Straits Times down 7.10 points 0.22% to 3,213.27, Hang Seng tumbled by 456.33 points 2.71% to 16,406.77, KOSPI Index lower 6.86 points or 0.25% to 2,748.00, Taiwan Weighted narrowed 21.60 points or 0.11% to 20,177.49, Jakarta Composite dipped by 1.23 points or 0.02% to 7,337.12, Shanghai Composite decreased by 34.00 points or 1.10% to 3,043.11, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI diminished by 2.28 points or 0.15% to 1,539.13.

On the flip side, Nikkei 225 up by 140.28 points 0.34% to 40,955.94.

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