- Stocks climbed more than 3 per cent this week, halting a four-week slump, as manufacturing, services improved in February
- Bilibili narrowed losses in the fourth quarter, adding to optimism about earnings rebound among Chinese tech companies
People passing by a screen displaying the Hang Seng Index in Central, Hong Kong in October 2022. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong stocks were headed for the first winning week in a month after a private report showed services activity in China expanded last month, underpinning bets on economic and corporate earnings recovery.
The Hang Seng Index rose 0.4 per cent to 20,518.27 at 10.50am local time, taking the advance this week to 2.5 per cent. The Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 0.8 per cent while the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.2 per cent.
Alibaba Group was flat and Tencent rose 0.8 per cent to HK$365.60. Search engine operator Baidu rallied 3.6 per cent to HK$147.00 as traders await its launch of ChatGPT-like bot later this month. Bilibili surged almost 6.8 per cent to HK$163.60 after fourth quarter losses narrowed.
The Caixin PMI Services Index rose to 55 from 52.9 in January, beat market consensus of 54.5, today’s report showed. The gain, the fastest in six months, supported a government report earlier this week showing manufacturing grew at the fastest pace in a decade after Covid-19 curbs were dismantled.
This week’s rebound halted a four-week slump, when the Hang Seng Index slipped more than 10 per cent into a technical correction, as investors fret the economic recovery will stoke inflation and limit the room for fresh stimulus.
Traders are also waiting for Beijing to signal more policy support for the economy at the two sessions that kick off this weekend. The annual legislative and political consultative conferences could set bullish growth target as the nation further reopen its economy.
Two stocks debuted on Friday. Sichuan Rongda Gold rose 32 per cent to 9.38 yuan in Shenzhen while chip-testing equipment maker JHT Design surged 44 per cent to 84.36 yuan in Shanghai.
Most major Asian markets rose. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.2 per cent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3 per cent, while South Korea’s Kospi retreated 0.1 per cent.
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