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What's Affecting Markets Today
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Wednesday as weak U.S. consumer confidence data weighed on Wall Street overnight.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index surged 3.63%, driven by consumer and technology stocks after the government pledged HK$1 billion for AI development. The Hang Seng Tech Index jumped 5.25%, with JD.com (+9.03%), Xpeng (+9.34%), Alibaba (+6.05%), and Meituan (+10.47%) leading gains.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.25% to 38,142.37, while the Topix fell 0.30% to 2,716.40, marking a second consecutive day of losses.
South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.41% to 2,641.09, and the Kosdaq edged 0.26% higher to 771.41. China’s CSI300 gained 0.87%, closing at 3,959.94.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.14% to 8,240.70, also extending losses for a second session. The country’s consumer price index rose 2.5% year-on-year in January, matching December’s figure and aligning with expectations.
ASX Stocks
ASX 200 - 8,258.8 (+0.20%)
The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2% (19.9 points) to 8,260.60 on Thursday, driven by strong earnings from Coles and Qantas, while a robust result from Nvidia lifted sentiment. The All Ordinaries gained 0.3%.
Coles surged 5.5% after increasing its interim dividend to 37¢, benefiting from Woolworths’ December strike. Woolworths recovered 0.8% following a sharp sell-off on Wednesday. Qantas climbed 3.9%, reporting a $1.4 billion interim profit and opting for a special dividend over buybacks.
Eagers Automotive soared 21.9%, despite a 25% profit decline. Ramsay Health Care jumped 11.8% after engaging Goldman Sachs to explore selling its 52.8% stake in Santé. IDP Education slumped 11.1% as earnings fell 40%.
Medibank advanced 10.3%, lifting its dividend despite slowing policyholder growth. Atlas Arteria rose 3.1% on higher toll revenue. Neuren Pharmaceuticals rallied 8.7%, reporting $US348.4 million in annual sales.
Meanwhile, Telix Pharmaceuticals slipped 1.6% amid a $120 million share sale. Pepper Money climbed 5.5% as new home loans expanded 27% to $10.2 billion.
Leaders
APE – Eagers Automotive Ltd (+20.80%)
RPL – Regal Partners Ltd (+12.28%)
MMS – McMillan Shakespeare Ltd (+11.59%)
RHC – Ramsay Health Care Ltd (+10.48%)
MPL – Medibank Private Ltd (+9.83%)
Laggards
IEL – IDP Education Ltd (-10.52%)
OCL – Objective Corporation Ltd (-8.04%)
IDX – Integral Diagnostics Ltd (-6.57%)
PPT – Perpetual Ltd (-6.34%)
MCY – Mercury NZ Ltd (-6.02%)
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