Hong Kong (AFP) – Mainland Chinese stocks were buoyant after Lunar New Year, leading gains in most other Asian markets on Monday, as figures showed holiday spending surged past pre-pandemic levels.
But Tokyo’s key Nikkei index ended flat after a larger-than-expected rise in US wholesale prices on Friday dealt a blow to hopes of an early interest-rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
Shanghai jumped 1.6 percent at the close after traders returned from a week-long break.
Domestic spending on tourism during the Lunar New Year holiday came in at 632.7 billion yuan ($87.9 billion) — up 7.7 percent from 2019 — Chinese government figures showed.
Analysts also pointed to data showing a 61 percent year-on-year rise in rail trips as hundreds of millions of people moved across the vast country to visit family.
The figures were a source of relief for Chinese policymakers “grappling with challenges such as slowing economic growth, deflation risks, subdued consumer demand, and a collapse in the property sector”, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
“However, while the surge in tourism provides a glimmer of hope, its long-term sustainability remains uncertain,” he said.
China’s upbeat moment led gains in other markets, with Seoul up 1.2 percent and Singapore gaining 0.3 percent.
Sydney, Bangkok and Taipei were also slightly higher, but Jakarta lost 0.5 percent and Wellington fell 0.6 percent.
London edged down 0.1 percent in early trade and Paris shed 0.4 percent.
Hong Kong closed down 1.1 percent, breaking a three-day rally, with analysts saying investors felt uneasy after a decision by China’s central bank to leave a key policy rate unchanged, seen as an attempt to bolster the yuan.
Yet overall, market players in China were optimistic about sustaining recent positive momentum in Asian shares despite last week’s US inflation shock, Innes said.
Taylor Nugent from National Australia Bank also noted that speakers at the US Fed have “continued to preach patience”, adding that “the data flow isn’t giving them the green light to accelerate their cutting plans”.
Despite ending flat on Monday, Tokyo’s Nikkei index has been booming, with a positive trend in recent months now taking the index close to an all-time record set in 1989.
Optimism around strong Japanese earnings reports and the weak yen is bolstering that performance, analysts said.
“Some investors may consider profit-taking opportunities as the Nikkei approaches new all-time highs, as many wonder how long the weaker currency, which has supported exporter profits hugely…will last,” Innes warned.
Shares in Japanese gaming giant Nintendo tumbled on Monday, closing down 5.8 percent after reports said its next console would be delayed.
– Key figures around 0830 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: FLAT at 38,470.38 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.1 percent at 16,155.61 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: UP 1.6 percent at 2,910.54 (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 7,704.59
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.94 yen from 150.16 yen on Friday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2623 from $1.2603
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0784 from $1.0781
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.42 pence from 85.51 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.4 percent at $78.84 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.8 percent at $82.78 per barrel
New York – Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 38,627.99 points (close)
