Most stocks in Asia went up today because China’s leaders promised to give more help to the economy next year. Shares in Japan and South Korea increased, and the Hang Seng Index is expected to jump by more than 3% when it opens. The price of iron ore went up too, as China is a big buyer of metal.
The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index, which includes major Chinese companies trading in the US, soared by 8.5%, the most since September. In a recent meeting, China’s leaders said they will use a “moderately loose” approach for money matters in 2025, changing their strategy for the first time since 2011. They promised to take stronger actions to boost spending and stabilize the property and stock markets.
“We are optimistic about spending by families,” said Geoffrey Yu, a strategist at BNY, in an interview. He also noted that China’s 10-year bond yields have fallen, which may encourage leaders to raise expectations for the economy.
In other news, Chinese companies have started to limit sales of important parts for drones to the US and Europe. This is expected to lead to stricter export rules in the new year.
Traders will pay close attention to South Korean markets because President Yoon Suk Yeol is not allowed to travel overseas. The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to keep interest rates the same today, but everyone is watching for hints about what might happen next.
In the US, the S&P 500 index dropped after hitting almost record highs as traders wait for important inflation data that could affect Federal Reserve decisions. Nvidia Corp. shares fell as China investigates whether the company broke competition laws related to a 2020 deal.
Key inflation data will be released on Wednesday, giving the Federal Reserve a final look at price changes before their upcoming meeting. If prices surge, it could slow down plans for a rate cut.
In commodities, gold prices were supported as China’s central bank increased its reserves for the first time in seven months, and worries about the Middle East kept interest in safe investments high. Oil prices remained mostly unchanged as China’s demand might be balanced by troubles in Syria.
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