Asian markets conclude trade on mixed note

24 Jul 2013 Evaluate

The Asian markets concluded Wednesday’s trade on mixed note. The Mainland Chinese stocks fell after a gauge of the country’s manufacturing sector dropped to 11-month low. China’s manufacturing-sector activity is slowing further in July, with new factory orders deteriorating at a faster pace, according to preliminary data from HSBC and Markit. The so-called flash version of HSBC’s Chinese manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to 47.7, it was down from a final result of 48.2 for June, with any reading below 50 indicating a contraction in activity. A separate government version of the June PMI printed at 50.1. The flash PMI - which includes about 85%-90% of the survey responses that will be used for the final version - also showed employment in the sector sliding at a quicker pace than in June.

Nikkei too ended the trade lower due to weak Chinese manufacturing data. Japan's exports growth slowed in June as growth in shipments to China slowed, the Finance Ministry reported, with the effects of a stronger yen leading to a less impressive performance than in May. Exports rose 7.4% in June compared to a year earlier, missing a 10.3% gain forecast, and slowing from May's 10.1% advance. Still, the results marked the fourth increase in a row for exports, and resulted in a narrowing of the trade deficit to 180.8 billion Yen ($1.82 billion), down from May's 993.9 billion Yen gap, though above a consensus estimate for a deficit of 155.7 billion Yen. Imports, meanwhile, surged 11.8% on an annual rate after rising 10% in May.

Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite too concluded the trade in red. The country’s consumers were the most confident globally, according to the research by polling group Nielsen, while Southeast Asian countries figured prominently in the top-10 rankings during the second quarter. Southeast Asia’s biggest country had an index of 124 to top the rankings, Nielsen’s Global Survey of Consumer Confidence showed, well above the world average of 94. Indonesia was followed by the Philippines with an index of 121. 

South Korean shares showed an upward trend for third straight session as continued foreign purchases of local stocks relieved profit-taking by retail investors. Despite the mixed closure of Wall Street overnight, continued stock purchases both by foreign and institutional investors led the market advance. Separately, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to keep its rates unchanged, citing increased foreign currency inflows and controlled inflation. The monetary report released by the Central Bank noted that the decision was made to maintain the Repurchase rate and the Reverse Repurchase rate of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka without change at 7% and 9%, respectively.

Asian Indices

Last Trade

Change in Points

Change in %

Shanghai Composite

2033.33

-10.55

-0.52

Hang Seng

21968.93

53.51

0.24

Jakarta Composite

4718.10

-49.06

-1.03

KLSE Composite

1810.00

4.69

0.26

Nikkei 225

14731.28

-47.23

-0.32

Straits Times

3274.76

21.00

0.65

KOSPI Composite

1912.08

7.93

0.42

Taiwan Weighted

8196.19

-18.46

-0.22

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×