Another volatile week for Asian markets

IN RECENT months, volatility seems to be the mantra of the markets with this week being a prime example of that.

Asian markets started the week positively on a trade truce between the US and China on the sidelines of the G-20 summit. However, it did not take long before doubts emerged with Thursday's arrest of a senior Huawei executive, curbing hopes that the two economies could reach a lasting resolution to the trade conflict.

Speculation that the Federal Reserve's expected US rate increase in December might be its last before pausing interest rate hikes sent most key Asian indices higher on Friday, with the exception of the Hang Seng, Kuala Lumpur Composite and Singapore's Straits Times Index (STI).