Asian equity benchmarks traded mixed in early deals on Friday, as the investors side lined ahead to the US Jobs report and on worries over acceleration in the delta variant of the coronavirus cases and travel curbs in several countries. However, firmer Wall street followed by the better than expected US manufacturing data capped some losses. Japan’s Nikkei rebounded after four consecutive losses with the benchmark above $28,800 level amid optimism over global economic recovery. Although, Covid-19 resurgence with the spike in the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant and the news of another impending State of Emergency in Tokyo and other major areas limited further gains. Among the Asian markets, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Indonesia are trading higher. Bucking the trend, Hong Kong, South Korea, China and Malaysia are in negative trend.
Nikkei 225 up by 70.11 points or 0.24% to 28,777.15, Straits Times rose 1.20 points or 0.04% to 3,125.39, Taiwan Weighted enlarged by 12.96 points or 0.07% to 17,726.90, Jakarta Composite widened by 26.70 points 0.44% to 6,032.66,
On the flip side, Hang Seng lower by 462.59 points or 1.60% to 28,365.36, KOSPI narrowed 2.24 points or 0.07% to 3,279.82, Shanghai Composite slipped by 56.55 points or 1.58% to 3,532.23 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI down by 3.20 points 0.21% to 1,531.03.