Asian markets closed higher at the end of trading on Monday, August 11, the opening session of the week. Chinese markets led the Asian session’s gains, with Japanese markets absent for the Ming and Ming holidays. Investors are awaiting an extension of the tariff truce deadline between Washington and Beijing, which expires tomorrow, Tuesday, August 12.
Data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics on Saturday showed that the annual consumer price index (CPI), which measures inflation, remained stable in July after declining 0.1% in June. The index remained unchanged in July, recording a 0.0% decline, compared to expectations for a decline of around -0.1%. The core index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.8% compared to a 0.7% increase in June, the largest increase since March 2024.
Similarly, China’s producer price index (PPI) fell to 3.6% year-on-year in July, the same pace as in June, while expectations indicated a decline of around 3.3%. Chinese indices recorded gains today, with the broader CSI300 index rising by 0.41% to close at 4,121 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.34% higher at 3,647 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, the main index, rose by 0.07% in pre-market trading to 24,875 points, with BYD Electronic leading the index’s gains with gains of more than 6%.
In terms of stock movement, shares of Chinese pharmaceutical and vaccine company AB&B Bio-Tech rose to HK$33.50, up 160% from its initial public offering (IPO) price of HK$12.90. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kospi index fell by about 0.02% in today’s session, closing at 3,209 points. Figures released this morning showed that South Korea’s exports declined by 4.3% year-on-year between August 1 and 10, while imports declined by 13.6%.
India’s Sensex rose by about 0.31% before closing at 80,105 points, while the Nifty 50 index rose by about 0.32% to trade at 24,438 points.
New Zealand stock markets closed with gains today, with the NZX 50 index rising by about 0.52% to close at 12,911 points, while Australia’s ASX 200 index rose by about 0.43% to close at 8,844 points. Singapore’s main index declined by 0.17% in pre-closing trading. Markets are awaiting the Reserve Bank of Australia’s meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, which is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.60%, after maintaining them in July.