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Asian markets settle mostly higher on Friday
Jul-18-2025
Asian markets settled mostly higher on Friday tracking Wall Street’s gains overnight following encouraging tech earnings, while stronger than expected US retail sales and jobless claims suggested modest improvement in the US economic activity. Market sentiments improved further after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said policymakers should cut interest rates this month to counter rising growth and job market risks. Chinese shares gained amid expectations the government may roll out more stimulus to boost domestic demand and lift corporate profits. However, Japanese shares declined after data showed Japan's core inflation rate fell to 3.3% in June, down from a 29-month high of 3.5% in May.

Asian Indices

Last Trade            

Change in Points

Change in %      

Shanghai Composite

3,534.48

17.65

0.50

Hang Seng

24,825.66

326.71

1.32

Jakarta Composite

7,311.92

24.90

0.34

KLSE Composite

1,525.86

4.92

0.32

Nikkei 225

39,819.11

-82.08

-0.21

Straits Times

4,189.50

28.07

0.67

KOSPI Composite

3,188.07

-4.22

-0.13

Taiwan Weighted

23,383.13

269.85

1.15

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