The Asian markets concluded Friday’s trade on a mixed note after growth in Chinese exports in December showed a marked decrease from the prior month. Chinese exports grew 4.3% on year in December, a touch slower than expectations for 4.5% growth. The result suggested a substantial slowdown from November’s better-than-expected 12.7% growth. The country’s trade surplus last month was $25.6 billion, compared with expectations for a surplus of $32.2 billion. Chinese economic data so far this year has pointed to a picture of weakness in the world’s second-largest economy, with releases earlier in the month showing a deceleration in activity for both the services and manufacturing sectors. In addition, inflation numbers on Thursday suggested that the Chinese economy is cooling.
China’s trade balance fell more-than-expected last month to 25.60B, from 33.80B in the preceding month. Japan’s index of leading economic indicators rose less-than-expected last month to a seasonally adjusted 110.8, from 109.8 in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from 109.9. Philippines Industrial Production rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 21.3%, from 20.8% in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from 25.3%.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2013.30 | -14.32 | -0.71 |
Hang Seng | 22846.25 | 58.92 | 0.26 |
Jakarta Composite | 4254.97 | 53.75 | 1.28 |
KLSE Composite | 1826.61 | -1.60 | -0.09 |
Nikkei 225 | 15912.06 | 31.73 | 0.20 |
Straits Times | 3143.87 | -1.54 | -0.05 |
KOSPI Composite | 1938.54 | -7.57 | -0.39 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8529.35 | 14.67 | 0.17 |