Hong Kong stocks rose modestly on Tuesday, as investors positioned ahead of the Politburo meeting in China that could set the economic tone for the rest of the year, while sentiment remained upbeat following the launch of the world's largest hydropower dam project on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. The Hang Seng Index gained 135.89 points, or 0.5%, to close at 25,130.03, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) added 35.40 points, or 0.4%, to 9,075.60. Focus is now on the upcoming Politburo meeting, convened by Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, which could...
Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Monday as investors assessed business activity figures from several key economies in the region. China's Caixin services purchasing managers' index from S&P Global rose to 52.2 in December, which marked the service sector's fastest expansion since May 2024. China's central bank said over the weekend it would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy in 2025 as it seeks to boost growth. Separately, Hong Kong's PMI declined in December compared to the month before. December PMI figures for India will also be released Monday.Hong Kong's Hang Seng...
The au Jibun Bank Japan Services PMI was revised lower to 50.9 in December 2024 from a flash reading of 51.4. The latest result followed November's print of 50.5, marking the second consecutive month of growth in the service sector and the strongest pace since September. New orders increased for the sixth straight month, with the growth rate reaching its strongest since August. Employment also rose, marking the 15th month of gains, though the rise was modest. Meanwhile, outstanding business accumulated for the second month in a row, with the growth rate marginal but surpassing the long-run...
The S&P Global Hong Kong SAR PMI eased to 51.1 in December 2024, down from 51.2 in November, marking the third consecutive month of private sector expansion, though at its slowest pace in the current sequence. Growth in new business softened as demand from both Mainland China and international markets weakened, leading to slower output growth. Companies remained cautious and opted to reduce staffing levels, although they continued to increase their inventory of input products. At the same time, pricing pressures remained subdued, contributing to the sharpest decline in average selling...
Asia-Pacific markets mostly climbed Monday, with investors awaiting business activity figures from several key economies in the region. China's Caixin services purchasing managers' index from S&P Global is due later in the day. Market reaction in China will also be in focus after the country's central bank said over the weekend it would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy in 2025.December PMI figures for India and Hong Kong will also be released MondayFutures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index last traded at 19,827, pointing to a stronger open for the index compared to the HSI's...
US stocks closed higher on Friday, ending the first week of the new year on a positive note ahead of data that should provide more insights on the health of the largest economy in the world. At close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.8%, the S&P 500 index rose 1.3%, and the NASDAQ Composite index climbed 1.7%. The main Wall Street indexes reported stellar gains in 2024, but expectations of slower interest rate cuts and uncertainty over policies under incoming President Donald Trump have chipped away at this sentiment. In a relatively quiet day for economic data, investors will...