The Asian markets concluded Monday’s trade in green with Japan’s Nikkei share bouncing off from a six-week low on the back of a tentative recovery in risk appetite, though underlying concerns about Japan’s economic outlook kept gains in check. China’s Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli stated that deepening reform will bring a new impetus for economic growth in China and provide room and opportunity for the world economy. China’s central bank hinted that it was willing to accept some debt defaults in the $1.8 trillion wealth management market, as the world’s second-largest economy struggles to curb bad debts that pose a risk to the financial system.
China HSBC flash manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to an eight-month low in March. The preliminary reading of 48.1 fell from February’s final reading of 48.5, while the flash March index also showed new orders slid for a fourth consecutive month to 46.9 - its lowest point since July 2013, while output fell to 47.3, the lowest since September 2012.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2066.28 | 18.66 | 0.91 |
Hang Seng | 21846.45 | 409.75 | 1.91 |
Jakarta Composite | 4720.42 | 20.21 | 0.43 |
KLSE Composite | 1833.85 | 13.37 | 0.73 |
Nikkei 225 | 14475.30 | 251.07 | 1.77 |
Straits Times | 3111.29 | 37.90 | 1.23 |
KOSPI Composite | 1945.55 | 10.61 | 0.55 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8605.38 | 28.21 | 0.33 |