Financial markets across Asia fell on Wednesday responding to weak manufacturing data in China. This negativity coupled with fading hopes of any decisive stimulus by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank undermined investor confidence. The Nikkei 225 and the KOSPI both slipped 0.61% and 0.11% respectively. On the contrary, the local Straits Times Index climbed 0.48% to close the trading day at 3051.

All charts in the report are day charts and end 1st August 2012 unless otherwise stated. Reviews and outlook are only valid for the day.