The Asian markets concluded Thursday’s trade on a mixed note following a record-breaking close on Wall Street as investors welcomed fresh positive US data and an upbeat Federal Reserve report on the economy. Indonesia’s bonds gained for a sixth day, the longest winning streak since October, on speculation local debt sales by the government will slow after it raised a record amount in a global offer. Japan’s Corporate Goods Price Index fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.5%, from 2.7% in the preceding month while Japanese tertiary industry activity index rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.6%, from -0.9% in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from -0.7%.
Japanese core machinery orders jumped an unexpected 9.3% in November from the previous month, as demand picked up ahead of an upcoming sales tax hike. The rise in the volatile economic indicator, after adjustment for seasonal factors, was much larger than the 1.2% increase forecast. It comes after a 0.6% gain in October. Machinery orders are closely watched as a leading indicator of corporate capital investment.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2023.70 | 0.35 | 0.02 |
Hang Seng | 22986.41 | 84.41 | 0.37 |
Jakarta Composite | 4412.49 | -29.11 | -0.66 |
KLSE Composite | 1813.01 | -11.02 | -0.60 |
Nikkei 225 | 15747.20 | -61.53 | -0.39 |
Straits Times | 3140.44 | -2.81 | -0.09 |
KOSPI Composite | 1957.32 | 4.04 | 0.21 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8612.11 | 9.56 | 0.11 |