Asian markets settle higher on Wednesday

18 Aug 2021

Asian markets settled higher on Wednesday ahead of minutes from July’s meeting of the Fed policy committee for clues on the central bank's tapering plans. Chinese and Hong Kong shares ended higher, even after Chinese market regulator on Tuesday issued draft rules to prevent unfair competition on the internet. Japanese shares rose tracking gains in defensive stocks, while Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga officially expanded and extended the nation's corona-virus state of emergency to counter a spike in Covid-19 cases threatening the medical system.

Asian Indices

Last Trade           

Change in Points

Change in %    

Shanghai Composite

3,485.29
38.31
1.11

Hang Seng

25,867.01
121.14
0.47

Jakarta Composite

6,118.15
30.24
0.50

KLSE Composite

1,525.24

1.65

0.11

Nikkei 225

27,585.91
161.44
0.59

Straits Times

3,131.44
12.93
0.41

KOSPI Composite

3,158.93
15.84
0.50

Taiwan Weighted

16,826.27
164.91
0.99