The Asian markets concluded Friday’s trade mostly in red while stability in the yen allowed Japanese stocks to move higher at the end of a bad week for the Nikkei Average. The Japanese government unveiled details of a ¥5.5 trillion ($53.9 billion) spending package to mitigate the expected drag on the economy from an upcoming sales tax increase in April, bundling steps to encourage corporate investment and employment, as well as handouts for low-income households. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had instructed his government to compile the package in October when he decided to raise the 5% sales tax to 8% in April. The measures will have an ¥18.6 trillion economic impact and should lift gross domestic product by 1% point.
Indonesia may see less foreign capital inflows next year, which could affect its ability to fill the gap in its external balance, as the US Federal Reserve likely begins curbing its stimulus spending. Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro stated that the Fed’s reduction of purchases of US bonds could destabilize financial markets in emerging nations, including Indonesia’s. Philippines CPI rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.4%, from 0.1% in the preceding quarter while Taiwanese CPI rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.67%, from 0.64% in the preceding quarter.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2237.11 | -9.96 | -0.44 |
Hang Seng | 23743.10 | 30.53 | 0.13 |
Jakarta Composite | 4180.79 | -36.11 | -0.86 |
KLSE Composite | 1826.95 | 2.09 | 0.11 |
Nikkei 225 | 15299.86 | 122.37 | 0.81 |
Straits Times | 3114.17 | -10.21 | -0.33 |
KOSPI Composite | 1980.41 | -4.36 | -0.22 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8367.72 | -7.82 | -0.09 |
