Most Asian markets fell on Friday. MSCI Asia Pacific Index was on the morning down 0.5 percent after reaching its highest level in two years the day before.
– Sentiment among investors is uncertain. Macro figures from the U.S. was a bit weak. “This week we’ve had a couple good days and investors may use this opportunity to take profit,” said Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy at AMP Capital Investors in Sydney to Bloomberg News.
Masaaki Shirakawa, Governor of the Bank of Japan said the U.S. contributed to the downside risk for the economy while the South Korean central bank explained its decision not to raise interest rates by weak growth in the European and U.S. economy in addition to a strengthening of its currency, reported Bloomberg News.
Among the few exceptions to the broad decline on Friday, the Chinese domestic stock markets rose by 2.23 percent in Shanghai and 1.01 per cent in Shenzen.
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank was among the winners in the banking index after Citigroup announced that Chinese banks will be required to show solid earnings growth for the third quarter, reported Bloomberg News.
A report from the Chinese Commerce Ministry on Friday that showed that foreign investment in China rose in September helped to further strengthen confidence in the outlook for the Chinese economy, writes Bloomberg News.
In South Korea, LG Electronics was up 2.4 percent and LG Display up 1.0 percent after another positive update from a brokerage house, wrote CNBC.
The mining company Rio Tinto also went against the trend and was up 1.1 percent driven by the company’s strong production report that was presented on Thursday, and signs that the company’s iron ore joint venture with BHP Biliton met resistance among EU regulators.
Key indicators: (at 7:06) Note: The market closes at different times)
Nikkei 225 (Japan) 9489.80 -0.98%
Topix (Japan) 825.82 -1.33%
Kospi (South Korea) 1899.35 -0.02%
Taiex (Taiwan) 8205.30 -0.12%
Straits Times (Singapore) 3217.06 0.69%
Shanghai Composite (China) 2950.81 2.47%
Shenzhen Composite (China) 1215.83 0.78%
Hang Seng (Hong Kong) 23747.36 -0.44%
Bombay Sensex 30 (India) 20393.43 -0.51%
S & P / ASX 200 Index (Aus) 4689.00 -0.21%

Tokyo – In the fight against the economic crisis, the Japanese Cabinet issued another economic stimulus package at the equivalent of 44 billion euros. The money will go to employment and social programs, assistance for small businesses and investments in infrastructure. There is hope that the package will stave off renewed appreciation of the yen. The package will be financed through a supplementary budget, yet Prime Minister Naoto Kan will still bring the stimulus package to parliament this month.
Uranium is currently trading at prices not seen for months, and appeals to speculative investors like hedge funds to get started. As the U.S. consulting company Ux Consulting tells in her latest monthly report, yellow cake listed for immediate delivery was the third consecutive week at more than 48 dollars per pound (454 grams). Compared to the low of March 2010 is a price increase of 19 percent.
Many foreign funds are committed to investing in private companies . Mekong Capital said that it will create a new fund (Mekong III ) from 150 million this year to participate in the capital of non-state joint stock companies in Vietnam. Having made the investment in the company Tran Anh ASEAF mobilize capital to increase its share capital by 250 million dollars . SMEs are the target. “Vietnam is one of our six strategic markets for investment , ” said Doan Kien Doh , head of the representative office of Aureos Capital. “Within 10 years , Vietnamese companies will become the leading emerging companies in Southeast Asia. Private companies operating in many business sectors in Vietnam are helping to create investment opportunities for foreign funds,” said Paul Coleman, financial expert from Price Waterhouse Coopers Vietnam .