The Asian markets barring KLSE Composite and Nikkei 225 concluded Tuesday’s trade mostly in green after the Fed chair Janet Yellen stated that the central bank will extend extraordinary support for the economy for some time to come. Chinese Manufacturing PMI also rose to an annual rate of 50.3, from 50.2 in the preceding month. However, China’s manufacturing engine contracted in the first quarter of 2014, adding to market expectations of government stimulus to arrest a loss of momentum in the world’s second-largest economy this year. The final Markit/HSBC Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to an eight-month low of 48.0 in March from February’s final reading of 48.5. The outcome was in line with last week’s preliminary PMI reading of 48.1.
Indonesian Inflation fell to a seasonally adjusted 7.32%, from 7.75% in the preceding month while Trade Balance rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.79B, from -0.44B in the preceding month. Thai CPI rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.11%, from 1.96% in the preceding month. Japan’s Average Cash Earnings rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.0%, from -0.2% in the preceding quarter.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2047.46 | 14.15 | 0.70 |
Hang Seng | 22448.54 | 297.48 | 1.34 |
Jakarta Composite | 4873.93 | 105.66 | 2.22 |
KLSE Composite | 1847.76 | -1.45 | -0.08 |
Nikkei 225 | 14791.99 | -35.84 | -0.24 |
Straits Times | 3198.52 | 9.90 | 0.31 |
KOSPI Composite | 1991.98 | 6.37 | 0.32 |
Taiwan Weighted | 8873.15 | 23.87 | 0.27 |