Asian shares rise on hopes for Chinese stimulus for economy

Annabelle Liang, The Associated Press</span>
Published Wednesday, October 31, 2018 11:41PM EDT

SINGAPORE -- Asian markets were mostly higher Thursday on hopes for Chinese government help for the economy as manufacturing slows.

KEEPING SCORE: Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.6 per cent to 25,386.77 and the Shanghai Composite index added 1 per cent to 2,628.34. The Kospi in South Korea was 0.7 per cent higher at 2,042.83. Australia's S&P-ASX 200 gained 0.1 per cent to 5,834.00. Japan's Nikkei 225 index bucked the regional trend, dropping 0.8 per cent to 21,749.78. Shares were higher in Taiwan and throughout Southeast Asia.

WALL STREET: A rally by retailers and technology and internet companies led major indexes higher on Wednesday. Companies like Facebook and General Motors posted strong earnings, boosting investor confidence amid rising interest rates. The S&P 500 index gained 1.1 per cent to 2,711.74. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 1 per cent to 25,115.76 and the Nasdaq composite jumped 2 per cent to 7,305.90. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks rose 0.3 per cent to 1,511.41. Despite the push, U.S. stocks finished October with their worst monthly loss in seven years.

CHINESE STIMULUS: Manufacturing in China slowed in October, according to official data, triggering concerns over the effects of tariffs on businesses despite official assurances. In a statement on Wednesday, the State Council, China's Cabinet, said there was a need for "timely countermeasures" and that "some policy effects needs to be further released". The hint of more stimulus lifted markets in Asia.

ANALYST'S TAKE: Fiscal stimulus by the Chinese government is a tricky affair as it would weaken its currency, Michael Every, senior Asia-Pacific strategist at RaboResearch, said in a commentary. "That is something they don't want, partly to prevent capital flight, and partly because Washington is watching like a hawk on that front," he added.

ENERGY: Oil prices continued to weaken on news that U.S. crude stockpiles increased for the sixth straight week. Benchmark U.S. crude dropped 18 cents to $65.13 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped 87 cents to settle at $65.31 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed 21 cents to $74.83 per barrel. In the previous session, it dropped 91 cents to $75.04 a barrel.

CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 112.86 yen from 112.94 yen late Wednesday. The euro strengthened to $1.1342 from $1.1312.

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