Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell on Monday as China’s GDP data missed expectations, while investors also assessed the impact of an assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump at a rally over the weekend.
Japan’s markets are closed for a public holiday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index backtracked 277.44 points, or 1.5%, to 18,015.94.
Australian markets smashed past the 8,000 mark for the first time. The index was the only major Asia-Pacific benchmark in positive territory.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 nicked ahead 3.85 points, or 0.1%, to 3,476.25.
On Monday, China’s statistics bureau announced that its economy grew 4.7% in the second quarter, missing expectations of a 5.1% expansion forecast by a Reuters poll and lower than the 5.3% rise seen in the first quarter.
China’s retail sales for June also came in lower than expected, growing 2% year on year, compared with expectations of 3.3% from economists polled by Reuters. Sales rose 3.7% in May.
Separately, China’s top leaders will gather this week for a highly anticipated meeting known as the Third Plenum, with analysts expecting the gathering to focus on areas such as high local government debt levels and a push for advanced manufacturing, instead of the country’s real estate sector.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index forged ahead 2.11 points, or 0.1%, to 3,499.89.
In Korea, the Kospi index added 3.92 points, or 0.1%, to 2,860.92
In Taiwan, the Taiex index lost 37.57 points, or 0.2%, to 23,879.36.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 settled 11.83 points, or 0.1%, to 12,123.15.
In Australia, the ASX 200 took on 58.34 points, or 0.7%, to 8,017.62.
