The Asian markets barring KLSE Composite and Straits Times concluded Wednesday’s trade in green while Hong Kong and Shanghai rose extending their gains from the previous session after China’s central bank injected fresh capital into financial markets to avert a cash crunch. The Thai government declared a state of emergency in its capital in response to antigovernment protests that have paralyzed the city and stirred up increasingly violent attacks. Investment in Indonesia reached a record high in 2013, exceeding the government’s own target but the pace of growth is likely to slow down this year amid a tighter monetary policy. Separately, the International Monetary Fund raised its global growth forecast for the first time in nearly two years amid rising demand and inventories in advanced economies, which picked up the mantle of growth from emerging markets. The IMF predicted 3.7 % global economic growth this year, 0.1% point higher than its October projections, and sees growth of 3.9% in 2015.
Japan’s All Industries Activity Index rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.3%, from -0.2% in the preceding month. The Bank of Japan left its economic views unchanged while also keeping its policy interest rate and asset-purchase program steady, as widely expected. Some of the numerical forecasts were tweaked slightly, with the policy board now indicating a median economic growth forecast of 1.4% for fiscal 2014, compared to October’s median projection of 1.5%.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2051.75 | 43.44 | 2.16 |
Hang Seng | 23082.25 | 49.13 | 0.21 |
Jakarta Composite | 4477.49 | 24.99 | 0.56 |
KLSE Composite | 1814.10 | -1.24 | -0.07 |
Nikkei 225 | 15820.96 | 25.00 | 0.16 |
Straits Times | 3133.74 | -0.02 | - |
KOSPI Composite | 1970.42 | 6.53 | 0.33 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8625.30 | 25.40 | 0.30 |