Hang Seng rebounds slightly as Asia markets rise; Australia inflation hits highest in 32 years
Shares in the Asia-Pacific rose Wednesday as sentiment overnight improved over the Fed potentially turning less aggressive.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 1% at 15,317.67 after three consecutive negative sessions. The Hang Seng Tech index gained 2.48%.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite added 0.78% to 2,999.50 and the Shenzhen Component gained 1.678% to 10,818.33 – the China Securities Regulatory Commission on Tuesday said it intends to expedite the development of a “regulated, transparent open, lively and resilient” market.
Australia’s annual consumer price index reached the highest since December 1990. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.18% to 6,810.90. The Australian dollar last stood at $0.6468.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.67% to 27,431.84, and the Topix gained 0.58% to 1,918.21. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.65% to 2,249.56 — MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked 0.92% higher.
India’s market is closed for a holiday. In commodity markets, oil prices dropped more than 1% then pared some losses as data showed U.S. crude inventories rose more than expected last week. Brent crude futures lost 0.9% to $92.68 per barrel, while U.S. crude futures shed 0.66% to $84.76 per barrel.
Overnight in the U.S., major indexes rose for a third straight session as bond yields slid. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 337.12 points higher, or about 1.1%, to end at 31,836.74. The S&P 500 advanced 1.6%, closing at 3,859.11. The Nasdaq Composite popped 2.2%, landing at 11,199.12.
“Markets rebounded overnight driven by better earnings reports and speculation that the monetary policy tightening cycle may be nearing its end,” analysts wrote in an ANZ Research note, adding that falling consumer confidence and house prices indicate that tightening policies may be starting to reduce demand.
The benchmark Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rallied in the morning session, but was still down around 4% for the week so far and nearly 10% month to date.
On Monday, the index dropped more than 6% following the conclusion of the Communist Party of China’s 20th National Congress over the weekend where President Xi Jinping tightened his grip on power.
The HSI was volatile on Tuesday before closing 0.1% lower. It has risen as much as 2.56% on Wednesday.
