Shares in Asia-Pacific were mostly higher in Wednesday trade as investors continued to assess the impact of the omicron Covid variant. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.34% as of its final hour of trading, paring earlier gains of more than 1%. Mainland Chinese stocks closed mixed, with the Shanghai composite slipping slightly to 3,622.62 and the Shenzhen component advancing 0.697% to 14,791.33. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed 0.16% higher at 28,562.21 while the Topix index climbed nearly 0.1% to 1,971.51. South...

Shares in Asia-Pacific rose on Tuesday as investors reassessed the situation surrounding the omicron Covid variant. Japanese stocks led gains regionally, with the Nikkei 225 in Japan rising 2.08% on the day to 28,517.59 while the Topix index advanced 1.47% to 1,969.79. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.41% to close at 2,975.03. Mainland Chinese stocks closed higher, with the Shanghai composite up 0.88% to 3,625.12 while the Shenzhen component advanced 0.822% to 14,688.98. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 1% on the day to 22,971.33. Shares...

Asia-Pacific stocks were mixed on Friday, following days of turbulent trading this week as investors continue to monitor the situation surrounding the omicron Covid variant. Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong plunged after ride-hailing giant Didi announced Friday that it will begin taking steps to delist from the New York Stock Exchange — less than six months after it made its debut stateside. The company also said in the statement that it will pursue a listing in Hong Kong. Shares...

Stocks in Asia-Pacific struggled for direction on Thursday, as concerns over the economic impact of the omicron Covid variant continue to weigh on investor sentiment. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.55% to close at 23,788.93, reversing earlier losses. Shares of Razer in the city, however, dropped 7.87% on the day. The company said a consortium has offered to take it private at 2.82 Hong Kong dollars each, about 5.62% higher than Razer’s Wednesday close. Mainland Chinese stocks closed in...

Major Asia-Pacific markets fell in Tuesday trade as investors in the region continued to track developments surrounding the omicron variant. Major markets in the region fell after Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told the Financial Times that he expects existing vaccines to be less effective against the new variant. Bancel told CNBC on Monday that it could take months to develop and ship an omicron specific vaccine. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was among the region’s biggest losers, falling about 1.8% as of...

Major markets in Asia-Pacific largely fell on Monday as investors continue to monitor developments surrounding the recently discovered omicron Covid variant. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 0.95% to close at 23,852.24. Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese tech giant Meituan lost 7% after the firm on Friday posted a loss of about 10 billion Chinese yuan ($1.56 billion) for the three months ended Sept. 30. Shares of Sun Entertainment Group in Hong Kong sank 30.97% after the South China Morning Post reported...

Shares in Asia-Pacific dropped on Friday, with stocks in Hong Kong and Japan leading losses regionally as fears of a new Covid variant weighed on investor sentiment. World Health Organization officials said Thursday they are monitoring a new variant with “a large number of mutations.” A special meeting is scheduled for Friday to discuss its implications for vaccines and treatments. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index saw sharp losses on Friday, falling 2.67% to close at 24,080.52. The variant...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Wednesday, with Japanese stocks leading losses regionally. The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 1.58% to close at 29,302.66 while the Topix index declined 1.16% to 2,019.12. Markets in Japan were closed on Tuesday for a holiday. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 0.1% on the day to 2,994.29. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.54% as of its final hour of trading. Mainland Chinese stocks finished the trading day mixed, with the Shanghai composite rising 0.1% to 3,592.70 and...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Tuesday as investors watched for market reaction to U.S. President Joe Biden picking Jerome Powell for a second term as Federal Reserve chair. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined more than 1% as of its final hour of trading. Mainland Chinese stocks closed mixed, with the Shanghai composite up 0.2% to 3,589.09 while the Shenzhen component slipped 0.371% to 14,905.13. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 0.53% to close at 2,997.33, with shares of biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion plunging 6%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia closed 0.78%...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday as China kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong dipped 0.39%, closing at 24,951.34. Hong Kong-listed shares of JD.com and NetEase gained 1.93% and 3.02%, respectively, following a Friday announcement that the two stocks are set to be included in the benchmark Hang Seng index from Dec. 6. In mainland China, the Shanghai composite rose 0.61% to close at 3,582.08 while the Shenzhen component advanced 1.411% to 14,960.66. China on Monday kept the one-year...

Asian markets were mainly lower on Friday as Hong Kong shares slumped, extending losses from the previous session as some of China’s biggest tech names remained under pressure. The benchmark Hang Seng index declined 1.07% to 25,049.97 while the tech-focused Hang Seng tech index dropped 0.26% to 6,457.97. Alibaba shares listed in Hong Kong dropped more than 10% after the technology behemoth missed revenue and earnings expectations for the September quarter, as slowing economic growth in China weighed on results....

 Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Thursday, following overnight losses on Wall Street, as shares in Japan, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland struggled for gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.29% to 25,319.72 while the Nasdaq-style technology board, Hang Seng tech index, sold off nearly 3%. Some of the major tech names listed in Hong Kong declined sharply: Alibaba was down 5.34%, Meituan fell 2.46%, JD was down 3.58%, Tencent declined 2.4% and Baidu fell 7.84%. In the previous Asian Trading session, Baidu reported third-quarter revenue above...

Declines across Asia-Pacific stocks were seen by Wednesday’s close, with data showing Japan’s exports growth hit an eight-month low. Markets in the U.S., however, were lifted on the back of stronger-than-expected retail sales data. Australia and South Korea led losses in the region. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.68% to close at 7,369.90. Financial stocks were lower, with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia leading losses as its shares plummeted more than 8%. News in the region may help...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Tuesday as investors reacted to a virtual meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed 1.27% higher at 25,713.78. Shares of gaming hardware firm Razer in Hong Kong surged 11.46% after Reuters reported, citing sources, that executives at the firm are leading a consortium plan to value the company at up to 35 billion Hong Kong dollars (about $4.49 billion). Mainland Chinese stocks ended the trading day lower, with the Shanghai...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday as investors reacted to the latest Chinese economic data for October. Mainland Chinese stocks closed lower, with the Shanghai composite slipping 0.16% to 3,533.30 while the Shenzhen component dipped 0.469% to 14,636.39. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index sat little changed, as of its final hour of trading. The losses in mainland China came despite Chinese economic data coming in better than expected. Data released Monday showed retail sales in China rose 4.9% year-on-year...

Shares in Asia-Pacific advanced on Friday as technology shares mostly rose, following overnight gains for their counterparts on Wall Street. Hong Kong-listed shares of JD.com soared nearly 5% following the Singles Day online shopping event, while Alibaba dropped 0.67%. Both companies set new sales records across their platforms on Singles Day. Meanwhile, Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese chip maker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation dropped 4.47% after the firm said a top executive and multiple board members resigned. The Hang Seng Tech index gained...

Asia-Pacific stocks were mixed on Thursday after data released overnight showed U.S. consumer inflation spiked in October. Shares of China Evergrande Group listed in Hong Kong surged 6.75%, following a report from Chinese media outlet Cailianshe that several bondholders received coupon payments from the debt-ridden developer. Other real estate stocks in Hong Kong also rose, with China Vanke gaining 6.73% while Country Garden advanced 5.39%. The Hang Seng Properties index gained 2.65% to 31,674.34. The stock gains followed reports...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday as investors reacted to China’s trade data released over the weekend. Mainland Chinese stocks recovered from earlier losses to close higher, with the Shanghai composite up 0.2% to 3,498.63 while the Shenzhen component climbed 0.32% to 14,508.86. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dipped around 0.4% as of its final hour of trading. South Korea’s Kospi closed 0.31% lower at 2,960.20. The Nikkei 225 in Japan slipped 0.35% to close at 29,507.05 while...

Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Friday as shares in Hong Kong led to losses among the region’s major markets. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 1.41% to finish the trading day at 24,870.51. Mainland Chinese stocks closed lower, with the Shanghai Composite down 1% to 3,491.57 while the Shenzhen component shed 0.637% to 14,462.62. Shares of Chinese property developers in Hong Kong fell. China Evergrande Group slipped 2.54% while China Vanke dropped 1.39% and Sunac China Holdings plunged 6.78%. The Hang Seng Properties index dipped...

Shares in Asia-Pacific rose on Thursday following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s announcement that it will start tapering the pace of its bond purchases later in November. The Nikkei 225 in Japan closed 0.93% higher at 29,794.37 while the Topix index advanced 1.18% to 2,055.56. South Korea’s Kospi also climbed 0.25% on the day to 2,983.22. In mainland China, the Shanghai composite finished the trading day 0.81% higher at about 3,526.87 while the Shenzhen component jumped 1.305% to 14,555.27. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up around 0.4%, as...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Tuesday, as Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese real estate firms fell amid renewed fears. By the market close in Hong Kong, China Evergrande Group’s stock fell 2.9% while China Vanke tanked by 4%, while Sunac China Holdings plunged 9.6%. The Hang Seng Properties index declined 0.99% to 30,203.36. The broader Hang Seng index in Hong Kong erased earlier gains and fell 0.22% to 25,099.67. On Monday, Moody’s downgraded developer Yango Group, warning the Chinese firm “may not...

 Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday as investors reacted to economic data that showed a mixed picture of Chinese manufacturing activity in October. Japanese stocks led gains regionally as the Nikkei 225 jumped 2.61% to close at 29,647.08, with shares of Fast Retailing soaring 4.22%. The Topix index climbed 2.18% on the day to 2,044.72. Those gains came after the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party held on to its single-party majority in a Sunday parliamentary election. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were lower in Thursday trade as the Bank of Japan announced its decision to hold steady on monetary policy. The Nikkei 225 in Japan declined 1.05% while the Topix index shed 0.69%. Retail sales in Japan fell 0.6% in September from a year earlier, according to government data released Thursday. The Bank of Japan kept interest rate targets unchanged on Thursday and the central bank cut its real GDP growth outlook and consumer inflation forecasts for...

 Shares in Asia-Pacific were lower on Wednesday, with Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong seeing big losses. Hong Kong-listed shares of Tencent dropped 2.99% on Wednesday while Alibaba fell 2.95% and Meituan plunged 5.09%. The Hang Seng Tech index slipped 3.19% to 6,441.62. The broader Hang Seng index in Hong Kong led losses among the region’s major markets, falling 1.57% to close at 25,628.74. Mainland Chinese stocks declined on the day, with the Shanghai composite shedding 0.98% to 3,562.31 and the Shenzhen component falling 1.095% to...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday as investors reacted to the release of HSBC earnings. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed little changed at 26,132.03. Hong Kong-listed shares of HSBC rose 0.43% after the bank on Monday reported a pre-tax profit in the third quarter of 2021 that bested expectations. Shares of embattled developer China Evergrande Group declined 0.74% by the Hong Kong market close after surging nearly 6% earlier. The firm announced Sunday it had resumed work on more than...

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Friday, as shares of China Evergrande Group surged in Hong Kong following media reports that the embattled developer is set to pay off a coupon payment on a dollar-denominated bond. Shares of Evergrande in Hong Kong surged 4.26% on Friday. Evergrande Property Services Group also saw its stock jump 1.7%. The Hang Seng Properties index advanced 1.4% to 31,928.03. The broader Hang Seng index in the city rose 0.42% on the day to 26,126.93. Mainland Chinese...

Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Thursday, as investors monitored shares of developer China Evergrande Group in Hong Kong. Evergrande shares dropped 12.54%, having returned to trade on Thursday after a halt that lasted more than two weeks. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 led losses among the region’s markets as it slipped 1.87% to close at 28,708.58 while the Topix index fell 1.32% to 2,000.81. South Korea’s Kospi edged 0.19% lower, closing at 3,007.33. The debt-laden firm announced in an...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Wednesday trade as China kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rose 1.1% as of its final hour of trading, leading to gains among major markets in the region. Shares of Chinese tech firms listed in the city surged, with Tencent up 1.6% while Alibaba soared 6.92% and Meituan jumped 3.29%. The Hang Seng Tech index also gained 2.69%. Mainland Chinese stocks closed lower, with the Shanghai composite slipping 0.17% to...

Shares in Asia-Pacific rose on Friday following overnight gains on Wall Street with the S&P 500 jumping nearly 2%. The Taiex in Taiwan surged 2.4% on the day to 16,781.19, leading gains among the region’s major markets, as shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company rose 4.71% following an earnings release a day earlier. TSMC on Thursday reported a net profit of 156.3 billion Taiwan dollars (around $5.57 billion) for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, above expectations of a...

Asian Pacific stocks closed higher as shares in mainland China edged higher on Wednesday as investors reacted to the release of Chinese trade data for September. The Shanghai Composite gained 0.42% to 3,561.76 while the Shenzhen component rose 1.54% to 14,353.08. China’s imports rose 17.6% from a year earlier in September, customs data showed Wednesday, missing expectations for a 20% expansion in a Reuters poll. Exports in September rose 28.1% from a year earlier in September, the data showed, exceeding...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Monday trade as stocks in Hong Kong led gains regionally. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 1.84%, as of its final hour of trading. Shares of Meituan in Hong Kong surged 7.27%. China’s market regulator on Friday said it had fined the company about 3.4 billion Chinese yuan ($527.71 million) after finding it guilty of monopolistic practices. Still, that was far smaller than the 18.23 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) fine that Alibaba had been slapped with...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mostly lower on Wednesday, with major indexes in Japan and South Korea leading losses regionally. Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed earlier gains, falling 1.05% to close at 27,528.87, while the Topix index dipped 0.3% on the day to 1,941.91. South Korea’s Kospi slipped 1.82%, closing at 2,908.31. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 0.6%, as of its final hour of trading. Shares in Australia also dipped, with the S&P/ASX 200 falling 0.58% to close at 7,206.50. In Southeast Asia,...

Asian markets were mixed in Monday trade, with the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong tumbling more than 2% following its return from a Friday holiday. The Hang Seng index fell 2.19% to 24,036.37, by the market close in Hong Kong. Trading in shares of China Evergrande was halted, as investor concern surrounding the indebted property developer returned. Trading in the shares of Evergrande Property Services was also halted, with the firm saying in an exchange filing that there’s an impending...

Asia-Pacific stocks largely fell in Wednesday trade following an overnight tumble on Wall Street, with the Nasdaq plunging nearly 3% as bond yields rise. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 slipped 2.12% to close at 29,544.29 while the Topix index dropped 2.09% to finish the trading day at 2,038.29. Mainland Chinese stocks also saw sizable losses on the day as the Shanghai composite shed 1.83% to 3,536.29 and the Shenzhen component fell 1.64% to 14,079.02. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index bucked the overall...

 Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mostly lower on Tuesday, as various firms downgraded China’s GDP forecasts. Goldman Sachs on Tuesday slashed its China GDP growth expectations to 7.8%, down from the 8.2% previously forecast. Nomura also expected China’s GDP to grow by 7.7% this year, down from a previous forecast of 8.2%. Still, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index led gains regionally, jumping 1.2% on the day to 24,500.39. Mainland Chinese stocks closed mixed, with the Shanghai composite up 0.54% to 3,602.22...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday, with investors monitoring stocks related to embattled developer China Evergrande Group. Mainland Chinese stocks closed lower, with the Shanghai composite slipping 0.84% to 3,582.83 while the Shenzhen component dipped around 0.1% to 14,344.29. Shares of China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group in Hong Kong plunged 9.42% following the firm’s Friday warning that it was in a “serious shortage of funds.” The company also announced over the weekend that it will not proceed with plans...

Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Friday, as investors continued to watch developments surrounding China Evergrande Group. The Nikkei 225 in Japan jumped 2.06% to close at 30,248.81, with shares of Fast Retailing and Softbank Group gaining 1.5% and 2.76% respectively. The Topix index gained 2.31% to finish the trading day at 2,090.75. South Korea’s Kospi, on the other hand, closed fractionally lower at 3,125.24 While, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 1.45% to close at 23,155.49. Shares of China Evergrande Group in Hong...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mostly higher in Thursday trade as investors in Asia-Pacific continue monitoring the situation surrounding China Evergrande Group. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 1.04%, as of its final hour of trading, following losses earlier in the week. It had returned to trade after a holiday on Wednesday. Shares of China Evergrande Group in the city jumped more than 17%, paring some gains after soaring more than 20% earlier. That was also after days...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Tuesday as investors continued monitoring the situation surrounding embattled developer China Evergrande Group. Japanese stocks declined as they returned to trade following a Monday holiday. The Nikkei 225 closed 2.17% lower at 29,839.71 as shares of conglomerate Softbank Group plunged 4.98%. The Topix index shed 1.7% on the day to 2,064.55. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index, which was dragged down by more than 3% on Monday amid investor fears around Evergrande, rose 0.51% to close...

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index led losses among Asia-Pacific markets in Monday trade, with shares of embattled Chinese developer China Evergrande Group continuing to drop. The Hang Seng index dropped 3.3% to close at 23,099.14. Shares of China Evergrande Group in the city plummeted 10.24%, after falling as much as 17% earlier. The Hang Seng Properties Index dropped to a 52-week low, falling 6.69% on the day. Shares of insurers listed in asia also plunged. AIA dropped 4.94% while...

Asia-Pacific stocks were largely lower on Thursday, with Chinese stocks leading losses regionally. By the mainland market close on Thursday, the Shanghai Composite dropped 1.34% to 3,607.09 while the Shenzhen component plunged 1.954% to 14,258.13. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 1.46% to close at 24,667.85, with most casino stocks listed in the city seeing a second straight day of sharp losses. Shares of Wynn Macau in Hong Kong dropped 4.69%, Sands China fell 7.96% and Melco International Development slipped 0.76%. Those moves followed a Wednesday plunge...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were largely lower on Wednesday, as investors reacted to the release of Chinese economic data. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 1.84% to close at 25,033.21 — falling more than 1% for the third straight session. Casino stocks listed in the city plunged amid fears over tighter regulations as Macao kicked off a public gaming consultation. Shares of Wynn Macau plummeted 29%, while Sands China plunged more than 32%. Galaxy Entertainment Group dropped around 20%. Mainland Chinese stocks closed lower,...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Tuesday as investors looked ahead to the release of U.S. consumer inflation data for August. In Hong Kong, China Evergrande Group’s stock plunged 11.87% after the embattled property developer on Tuesday flagged expectations for a “significant continuing decline in contract sales in September,” as confidence falls following negative media reports surrounding the firm. Shares of China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle and Evergrande Property Services, units that Evergrande has been attempting to sell, also plummeted 24.66%...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday, with stocks in Hong Kong leading losses. Hong Kong-listed shares of Alibaba dropped 4.23% following a Financial Times report that Beijing wants to break up Ant Group’s Alipay and force the creation of a separate loans app. Other Chinese tech stocks also declined, with Tencent falling 2.45% while Meituan slipped 4.47%. The Hang Seng Tech index dropped 2.27% to 6,595.03. Chinese electric vehicle stocks fell after the country’s industry minister said consolidation in the sector is...

Shares in Asia-Pacific rose on Friday, as investors monitored Hong Kong-listed stocks of firms in regulation-hit sectors such as video games. Shares of Tencent in Hong Kong jumped 2.08% on Friday while NetEase gained 3.14% — a partial recovery after the heavy losses seen Thursday. Gaming stocks had tumbled on Thursday as the South China Morning Post reported that the Chinese government will suspend approvals for new online games in the country. After the market close, however, the...

Hong Kong stocks dropped on Thursday, with shares in the rest of Asia-Pacific also largely declining. Shares of Tencent and Netease in Hong Kong dropped 8.48% and 11.03% respectively on Thursday after regulatory pressures surfaced again. While the broader Hang Seng index in Hong Kong dropped 2.3% on the day to 25,716. Chinese state media reported that the two were among video game firms summoned to a meeting with regulators. Issues discussed during the meeting included reminding them of restrictions on...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Wednesday, with shares of China Evergrande Group recovering slightly after briefly falling below their IPO price. By the Wednesday market close in Hong Kong, China Evergrande Group shares in the city rose 3.92%. Still, the embattled property developer’s stock has dropped nearly 5% so far this week, extending declines since last week after it warned that it could default. Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday downgraded its rating, citing “heightened liquidity...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mostly higher on Tuesday, as China’s August trade data came in above expectations. The Shanghai Composite in mainland China rose 1.51% to close at 3,676.59 while the Shenzhen component advanced 1.074% to 14,702.90. China’s exports jumped 25.6% year-over-year in August, customs data showed Tuesday — above expectations for a 17.1% rise by analysts in a Reuters poll. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.73% to close at 26,353.63. Shares of retail firms listed in the city...

Asia-Pacific stocks rose on Monday, with shares in Japan and China seeing big gains. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was among the biggest gainers regionally, rising 1.83% to close at 29,659.89. That added to its surge of 2.05% on Friday after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he will not be running in the upcoming leadership election. The Topix advanced 1.24%. Mainland Chinese stocks also saw robust gains on the day, with the Shanghai composite gaining 1.12% to 3,621.86 and the Shenzhen component jumped...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Thursday trade as Australia reported a higher-than-expected trade surplus in July. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia shed 0.72%. Australia recorded a trade surplus of 12.117 billion Australian dollars (about $8.93 billion) in July, according to data released Thursday by the country’s Bureau of Statistics. That was much higher than the 10.2 billion Australian dollars surplus projected in a Reuters poll. Elsewhere, mainland Chinese stocks were mixed, with the Shanghai composite up...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Tuesday, as data showed slowing Chinese factory activity growth in August. In mainland China, the Shanghai composite rose 0.45% to close at 3,543.94 while the Shenzhen component shed 0.659% on the day to 14,328.38. China’s factory activity grew at a slower pace in August as compared with the previous month, data released Tuesday showed. The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for August came in at 50.1, against July’s reading of 50.4. Meanwhile, the...

Shares in Asia-Pacific mostly rose on Monday trade, with Australian stocks recovering from an earlier slip as Covid cases in the country spike. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 advanced 0.54% to close at 27,789.29 while the Topix index gained 1.11% to 1,950.14. South Korea’s Kospi ended the trading day up 0.33% at 3,144.19. Mainland Chinese stocks were mixed on the day as the Shanghai composite rose 0.17% to 3,528.15, while the Shenzhen component dipped fractionally to 14,423.37. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed 0.52%...

Asia-Pacific markets mostly declined on Thursday despite overnight gains on Wall Street, while South Korea became the first major economy to raise interest rates during the pandemic. The Bank of Korea raised its base rate by 25 basis points to 0.75% for the first time in nearly three years. South Korean stocks were mixed. The benchmark Kospi fell 0.58% to 3,128.53 while the Kosdaq gained 0.26% to 1,020.44. The Korean won weakened against the dollar following the rate hike,...

Asia-Pacific stocks were mixed at the close on Wednesday, as optimism continued to drive U.S. stocks, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching record highs overnight. Meanwhile, India’s benchmark index hit a record high. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 0.13% to close at 25,693.95 after jumping earlier. Chinese tech stocks listed in Hong Kong pared morning gains, losing steam by the close after rallying Tuesday. Tencent shares rose 0.55% after jumping 3% earlier. Food...

Shares in Asia were higher on Wednesday, with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand keeping interest rates unchanged despite expectations of a hike. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.59% to close at 27,585.91 while the Topix index climbed 0.44% on the day to 1,923.97. Japan’s government on Tuesday decided to extend the Covid-19 state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas to Sept. 12, local news agency Kyodo News reported. Mainland Chinese stocks closed higher. The Shanghai...

Shares in Asia-Pacific declined on Tuesday, with Chinese internet stocks in Hong Kong falling again as regulatory fears resurfaced. By the Tuesday market close in Hong Kong, shares of Tencent dropped 4.14% while Alibaba plunged 4.77% and JD.com slipped 5.16%. The Hang Seng Tech index slipped 3.13% to 6,218.89. Those losses came after China’s market regulator issued draft rules on Tuesday aimed at stopping unfair competition on the internet. Hong Kong’s broader Hang Seng index fell 1.66% to 25,745.87. Mainland Chinese stocks led...

Major Asia-Pacific markets closed mixed on Wednesday, while shares of China’s most indebted property developer Evergrande and some of its units soared. Chinese markets were muted. The Shanghai composite closed just above the flatline to 3,532.62, while the Shenzhen component was down 0.24% to 15,021.17. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.21% in the final hour of trade. Shares of China Evergrande jumped more than 8% in the afternoon after the company said in a filing that it was in...

Asia-Pacific markets rose after the U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate near zero meanwhile, shares in Hong Kong continued to see a rebound on Thursday from a two-day slump earlier in the week. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 3.3% to close at 26,315.32. The index had dived more than 8% over two days early this week. Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong, which were hit hard by the market rout earlier in the...

Hong Kong continued selling off on Tuesday, extending losses from Monday. The broader Asia-Pacific markets, meanwhile, were mixed. The broader Hang Seng index in Hong Kong briefly fell more than 5% in Tuesday afternoon trade before paring some of those gains, eventually closing 4.22% lower at 25,086.43. The index has fallen more than 8% in just two days as regulatory fears surrounding China’s technology and private education sector weighed on investor sentiment. On Monday, it fell more than...

Asian markets dropped sharply by the close on Monday, wiping out the Hang Seng index’s gains for 2021 once again as Chinese tech and education stocks plunged under regulatory pressure. Meanwhile, a summit between China and the United States got off to an acrimonious start, weighing on investor sentiment. The broader Asia-Pacific markets were largely lower, with mainland Chinese stocks also falling. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong fell 4.13% to close at 26,192.32,...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Friday as investors monitored Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong after regulatory concerns resurfaced. By the Friday market close in Hong Kong, shares of Chinese tech firms listed in the city tumbled. Kuaishou plunged 10.75% while Tencent slipped 2.39% and Meituan dropped 2.36%. The broader Hang Seng Tech index declined 2.96%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.45% to 27,321.98. Bloomberg News reported that Beijing is considering harsh penalties on ride-hailing...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were higher on Thursday, with markets in Japan closed for a holiday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was among the biggest gainers regionally, rising 1.83% to close at 27,723.84. Shares of China Evergrande Group surged 7.87%. Those gains came after the indebted developer announced it has solved legal disputes with China Guangfa Bank, according to Reuters. Mainland Chinese stocks closed higher, with the Shanghai composite climbing 0.34% to 3,574.73 while the Shenzhen component rose 0.326% to 15,262.19 while South Korea’s Kospi gained...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Wednesday trade, following an overnight bounce stateside that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising more than 500 points. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.58% to close at 27,548 while the Topix index advanced 0.82% to finish the trading day at 1,904.41. Japan’s exports rose 48.6% in June as compared with a year earlier, according to data released Wednesday by the country’s Ministry of Finance. That was higher than a...

Shares in Asia-Pacific fell on Tuesday following an overnight tumble for stocks on Wall Street that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunge more than 700 points. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.96% to close at 27,388.16 — the Nikkei is down more than 10% from its February high as of today’s close. Meanwhile, the Topix index fell 0.96% to end the trading day at 1,888.89. South Korea’s Kospi closed 0.35% lower at 3,232.70. Mainland Chinese stocks...

Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Friday as the Bank of Japan held steady on monetary policy. The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 0.98% to close at 28,003.08 while the Topix index slipped 0.38% to finish the trading day at 1,932.19. Japan’s central bank downgraded its real GDP forecast for 2021 to 3.8% growth, as compared with the 4% growth forecast made in April. The Bank of Japan also kept its yield curve control target at -0.1%...