Asian markets settled mostly higher on Monday ahead of the highly anticipated monetary policy announcements by major central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England. Market sentiments improved further after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he is not worried about recent market downturns because corrections are healthy and normal. Besides, traders shrugged off data showing US consumer sentiment plunged to a nearly 2-1/2-year low in March and long-term inflation expectations hit their highest level in 32 years. Chinese and Hong Kong shares gained, boosted by data indicating increased consumption in the world's second-largest economy China. Japanese shares rose sharply by tracking Wall Street’s gains last Friday as the risk of the federal government shutdown eased.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,426.13 | 6.57 | 0.19 |
Hang Seng | 24,145.57 | 185.59 | 0.77 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,471.95 | -43.68 | -0.67 |
KLSE Composite | 1,527.81 | 15.66 | 1.04 |
Nikkei 225 | 37,396.52 | 343.42 | 0.92 |
Straits Times | 3,859.36 | 23.34 | 0.60 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,610.69 | 44.33 | 1.70 |
Taiwan Weighted | 22,118.63 | 150.58 | 0.68 |
