Asia-Pacific markets fell in light trading on Tuesday, with some major indexes closed for the New Year’s holiday and others closing early.
The Shanghai Composite
SHCOMP, -0.06%
slipped 0.1% while the Shenzhen Composite
399106, +0.26%
rose 0.2% after data showed China’s factory activity continued to expand for a second straight month in December, following six months of contraction.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index
HSI, -0.45%
fell 0.5% ahead of an early close. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200
XJO, -1.78%
was also set to close early, posting steeper losses of 1.6%. Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi were closed.
Among individual stocks, AAC
2018, +1.87%
and PetroChina
857, +0.00%
gained in Hong Kong, while Tencent
700, -1.77%
and Wharf Real Estate
1997, -0.32%
fell. Beach Energy
BPT, -1.95%
, BHP
BHP, -1.27%
and Commonwealth Bank
CBA, -1.48%
slid in Australia as a heat wave and wildfires continued to grip the country.
On Monday, U.S. stock indexes logged their worst declines in about four weeks, despite optimism over an initial trade pact with China that may be signed soon.
U.S. markets — with the exception of the bond market — will be open for a full day of trading Tuesday, and most major global markets will close Wednesday for New Year’s Day.
Source : MTV
