Asian markets settled mostly higher on Monday as soft US inflation data kept the door open for the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates later in the year. Hong Kong and South Korean shares gained, led by technology shares after Nvidia Corporation unveiled a new line of artificial intelligence chips. A survey showed South Korea's factory activity expanded in May at the fastest pace in two years. Japan shares rose after a survey revealed the health of Japan's manufacturing economy improved for the first time in a year during May. However, Chinese shares ended with marginal cut even as China's factory activity grew the fastest in about two years in May due to production gains and new orders.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,078.49 | -8.32 | -0.27 |
Hang Seng | 18,403.04 | 323.43 | 1.76 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,036.19 | 65.45 | 0.93 |
KLSE Composite | -- | -- | -- |
Nikkei 225 | 38,923.03 | 435.13 | 1.12 |
Straits Times | 3,348.87 | 12.28 | 0.37 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,682.52 | 46.00 | 1.71 |
Taiwan Weighted | 21,536.76 | 362.54 | 1.68 |
