Asian equity benchmarks are exhibiting lacklustre trade in early deals on Friday with investors trading cautiously amid a lack of fresh triggers. Japanese Nikkei declined around half a percent with investors indulging in some profit taking after the previous session’s strong rally. Meanwhile, industrial production in Japan rose 0.5 percent in October, which was way off expectations for a 2 percent surge. In September, industrial production rose 1.3 percent on month. Moreover, a gauge of Japan’s prices rose the most in 15 years. Prices excluding energy and fresh food rose 0.3 percent from a year earlier in October.
KLSE Composite slipped 0.49 points or 0.03% to 1,807.11, Nikkei 225 declined 61.71 points or 0.39% to 15,665.41, Straits Times decreased 16.22 points or 0.51% to 3,170.15 and Seoul Composite was down by 3.24 points or 0.16% to 2,042.53.
On the flip side, Shanghai Composite rose 0.66 points or 0.03% to 2,220.04, Hang Seng surged 74.99 points or 0.32% to 23,864.08, Jakarta Composite added 0.37 points or 0.01% to 4,234.30 and Taiwan Weighted was up by 37.71 points or 0.45% to 8,400.14.
