SINGAPORE (AP) — Asian markets were mixed Thursday as traders wondered if the Chinese government could shore up its economy without weakening the yuan as manufacturing slows.
KEEPING SCORE: Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.5 percent to 25,347.71 while Japan's Nikkei 225 index tumbled 1.1 percent to 21,687.65. The Shanghai Composite index added 0.1 percent to 2,605.81. The Kospi in South Korea was 0.2 percent lower at 2,026.37. Australia's S&P-ASX 200 rose 0.2 percent to 5,840.80. Shares were higher in Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia but fell in Thailand.
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 percent to 2,711.74. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 1 percent to 25,115.76 and the Nasdaq composite jumped 2 percent to 7,305.90. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks rose 0.3 percent 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 Chinese stimulus gave Asian markets an early lift. But worries that it would worsen tensions with Washington weighed on investors who were more risk adverse.
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 lost 40 cents to $64.91 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 47 cents to $74.57 per barrel. In the previous session, it dropped 91 cents to $75.04 a barrel.
CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 112.82 yen from 112.94 yen late Wednesday. The euro strengthened to $1.1345 from $1.1312.
