Asian markets: Shanghai Composite gains as Brexit fears recede amid killing of British MP Jo Cox

Asian stock markets, including the Shanghai Composite Index which was up 0.02% at 2,873.47 at 6.23am GMT, were trading higher. This followed positive Wall Street close overnight.

However, for the week as whole, the markets recorded losses amid fears that the UK will vote to leave the European Union (EU) on 23 June. Investors were also worried over the decisions that the central banks of US and Japan would take on interest rates.

Asian markets: Shanghai Composite gains following a positive Wall Street close overnight — All Asian stock markets were trading higher on 17 June Reuters

While both the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan have left interest rates unchanged, the recent killing of Jo Cox, a British member of parliament who was in favour of UK remaining in the EU, has seen sentiment shifting towards the "Remain" camp.

Angus Gluskie, managing director of White Funds Management in Sydney, said: "Investors are considering the risk of Brexit to have been lowered, both by reports that European hedge funds believe Brexit will not get up and, secondly, that the shooting (of Cox) has played against the Brexit vote."

Indices in the rest of Asia traded as follows on 17 June at 6.34am GMT:

Country	Index	Price	Up/Down	%Change
Hong Kong	Hang Seng Index	20,136.06	Up	0.49%
Japan	Nikkei 225	15,599.66	Up	1.07%
South Korea	KOSPI	1,953.40	Up	0.07%
India	CNX Nifty	8,166.85	Up	0.32%
Australia	S&P/ASX 200	5,162.70	Up	0.32%

Overnight (16 June), the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 17,733.10, up 0.53%, while the FTSE 100 closed at 5,950.48, down 0.27%.

Among commodities, oil prices gained for the first time this week, after Brexit fears receded. While WTI crude oil was trading 0.76% higher at $46.56 (£32.73, €41.44) a barrel, Brent crude was trading 1.21% higher at $47.76 a barrel at 6.40am GMT on 17 June.