Asian markets traded mostly lower in early deals on Wednesday, pressured by the risk aversion ahead of a series of key US economic data releases this week. Sharp correction in health and financial stocks also saddled indices. Hang Seng dipped to second straight session amidst caution ahead of China's October Manufacturing PMI in the upcoming days, as well as next week's US presidential election and the Fed's interest rate decision. Bucking the trend, Japan’s Nikkei soared marking third straight gain kindled by strong quarterly earnings reports from major US tech companies, and on weaker local currency yen.
Hang Seng down by 162.88 points 0.79% to 20,538.26, Jakarta Composite diminished by 74.01 points or 0.97% to 7,532.59, KOSPI Index sluggish by 22.42 points or 0.86% to 2,595.38, Straits Times slipped by 23.54 points 0.66% to 3,566.82, Shanghai Composite dipped by 6.09 points or 0.19% to 3,280.32 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined by 6.96 points or 0.43% to 1,608.12.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 up by 486.81 points 1.24% to 39,390.49, Taiwan Weighted rose by 76.93 points or 0.34% to 23,003.52.