Asian markets settled mixed on Tuesday, tracking Wall Streets’ mixed overnight closing as soft factory activity and construction spending data added to signs the US economy is gradually slowing down and fuelled hopes for interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year. Seoul shares declined on profit booking and after data showed that South Korean consumer inflation slowed to a 10-month low but still remained above the central bank's 2% target. Japanese shares dropped as a firm yen weighed on investor sentiment. Chinese and Hong Kong shares gained by recent stimulus measures announced for the property sector. Chinese manufacturing activity grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years last month - a private sector survey of purchasing managers showed, and that contrasted with a surprise fall in the broader official survey of purchasing managers.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,091.20 | 12.71 | 0.41 |
Hang Seng | 18,444.11 | 41.07 | 0.22 |
Jakarta Composite | 7,099.31 | 63.12 | 0.89 |
KLSE Composite | 1,615.40 | 18.72 | 1.17 |
Nikkei 225 | 38,837.46 | -85.57 | -0.22 |
Straits Times | 3,338.94 | -9.93 | -0.30 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,662.10 | -20.42 | -0.77 |
Taiwan Weighted | 21,356.62 | -180.14 | -0.84 |
