Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher Wednesday, continuing their rally despite AI fears and weak economic data spooking U.S. investors.
Markets in Japan were closed for holiday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained 83.23 points, or 0.3%, to 27,266.30.
The U.S. December retail sales report showed that consumer spending was flat, missing the 0.4% monthly gain that economists polled by Dow Jones were expecting.
CHINA
The CSI 300 in Shanghai sank 10.48 points, or 0.2%, to 4,713.82.
The country’s consumer price index rose 0.2% in January from a year earlier, China’s National Bureau of Statistics data showed Wednesday.
That’s below economists’ forecast of 0.4% increase in a Reuters poll, a sign of continued deflationary pressure in the absence of stronger stimulus.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi jumped 52.8 points, or 1%, to 5,354.49.
In Taiwan, the Taiex popped 532.74 points, or 1.6%, to 33,605.71.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index gained 20.33 points, or 0.4%. to 4,984.58.
In Australia, the ASX recovered 147.42 points, or 1.7%, to 9,014.78.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 dipped 6.4 points, or 0.1%, to 13,507.28.
