Asian markets conclude Thursday’s trade on mixed note

18 Jul 2013 Evaluate

Asian markets concluded Thursday’s trade on a mixed note. China’s Shanghai Composite ended in red led by slumps in financial and property stocks, as concern lingered that Beijing won’t use stimulus to boost slowing economy. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) stated that China’s cooling economy threatens to impact growth in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. The Manila-based lender trimmed the region’s economic growth forecast to 5.2% this year and 5.6% next year in the update to its Asian Development Outlook publication. The ADB update came one day after Beijing released a report showing China’s economy slowing for the second quarter. The bank joined the International Monetary Fund in trimming its economic growth forecast for Asia. China’s Premier Li Keqiang urged caution about rushing to change economic policy to try to revive the country’s sputtering growth, but he also signaled Beijing was prepared to take action if the economy slips too far.

The number of Chinese cities recording month-on-month home price increases fell further in June as tightening measures to rein in speculation remain in place, the National Bureau of Statistics stated. Data showed that new home prices in 38 cities registered slower month-on-month rise, an increase of 4 cities from May. Beijing's GDP rose 7.7% year on year in the first half of 2013, up 0.5% over the same period last year. The city’s GDP expanded to 911.28 billion yuan ($148 billion) in the first six months, according to data issued by Beijing's statistics bureau and the National Statistics Bureau's Beijing division.

Jakarta Composite ended the trade in green. Indonesia’s rupiah fell for a 10th day, the longest losing streak since January 2004, after the central bank stated it allowed the currency to weaken. The central bank has tried to reassure investors and appealed for calm as the rupiah fell to an almost-four-year low against the US dollar. Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo stated that the market should not panic even though the rupiah has been trading beyond 10,000 to the dollar. Citigroup raised its 2014 current-account deficit forecast for Indonesia as the outlook for commodity prices dims and the Chinese economy slows. Japanese Nikkei rose after the yen weakened and on Federal Reserve’s Chairman comment that pace of bond purchases would hinge on US economic health

South Korean shares fell as foreign investors turned into net sellers in six sessions despite Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s comments over the need for highly accommodative monetary policy. Foreigners sold a net 113.4 billion won worth of shares, shifting into net sellers in six sessions. Local institutions were net buyers, but their purchases stood merely at 400 million won. Retail investors bought shares worth 115.4 billion won, limiting the KOSPI’s further decline.

Asian Indices

Last Trade

Change in Points

Change in %

Shanghai Composite

2023.40

-21.53

-1.05

Hang Seng

21345.22

-26.65

-0.12

Jakarta Composite

4720.44

41.43

0.89

KLSE Composite

1791.54

2.88

0.16

Nikkei 225

14808.50

193.46

1.32

Straits Times

3218.20

9.87

0.31

KOSPI Composite

1875.48

-12.01

-0.64

Taiwan Weighted

8194.88

-64.07

-0.78

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