Comparison of major benchmark indices year to date

At the end of Asia closing today, most Asia/Pacific indices closed on a positive note with the exception of New Zealand and Taiwan. Asian stocks ended higher today where Greece is in focus. Investors cheered on news that the five year austerity program won the consent of the EU and the IMF. This boosted sentiment across the Asia Pacific region.

As for the week, most Asia/Pacific indices closed up with the exception of New Zealand and Taiwan.

Benchmark	20101231	20110429	20110531	20110617	20110624
All Ordinaries	4,846.90	4,899.00	4,788.90	4,551.10	4,565.00
Shanghai Composite	2,808.08	2,912.14	2,743.72	2,643.65	2,746.21
Hang Seng	23,035.45	23,720.81	23,684.13:	21,695.26	22,171.95
BSE 30	20,509.09	19,135.96	18,503.28	17,870.53	18,240.68
Jakarta Composite	3,703.51	3,819.62	3,836.97	3,722.30	3,848.56
KLSE Composite	1,518.91	1,534.95	1,558.29	1,563.43	1,564.66
Nikkei 225	10,228.92	9,849.74	9,693.73	9,351.40	9,678.71
NZSE 50	3,309.03	3,519.33	3,547.64	3,469.59	3,455.60
Straits Times	3,190.04	3,179.86	3,159.93	3,005.28	3,066.85
Seoul Composite	2,051.00	2,192.36	2,142.47	2,031.93	2,090.81
Taiwan Weighted	8,972.50	9,007.87	8,988.84	8,636.10	8,532.83

At point of writing, Singapore time, Saturday 0025am, ALL European indices closed lower for the day. As reported by CNBC, European shares extended their losing streaks for eight consecutive weeks. Though news of the Greek austerity plan won the consent of the EU and the IMF earlier on the Asian session, the new concern or the next hurdle is getting it through the Greece parliament next week. Capital positions in Italian banks and more worries of EZ crisis contributed to the weak closing for the day and week.

CAC 40	3,804.78	4,106.92	4,006.94	3,823.74	3,784.80
DAX	6,914.19	7,514.46	7,293.69	7,164.05	7,121.38
FTSE 100	5,899.94	6,069.90	5,989.99	5,714.94	5,697.72

At point of writing US futures turned higher after economic data came in better than expected. However, US stocks turned lower at opening, following new concerns on Europe debt crisis. Durable goods increased 1.9% and GDP rose at an annual rate of 1.9%. US stocks closed down for the day. The NASDAQ closed up for the week while the Dow and S&P closed lower for the week.

This post will again be updated after US closing. (Completed.) Do remember to come back to this post for the timely updates (This minimizes several posts on similar topics). If time permits, I would provide a table of data for performance of benchmark indices for the week, month and year end closing of 2010. (Done!) Have a great weekend ahead!

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