Hong Kong stocks climb to 1-month high as US shutdown nears end and Fed rate cut looms



Hong Kong stocks rose to a one-month high on Wednesday on bets that the US will soon end its longest-ever government shutdown and the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates, brightening the outlook for global growth.

The Hang Seng Index climbed 1 per cent to 26,964.26 as of 10.10am local time, heading for the highest close since October 3. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.6 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index advanced 0.3 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.4 per cent.

Apparel maker Shenzhou International Group rallied 3.6 per cent to HK$70.10 and aluminium maker China Hongqiao Group advanced 3.8 per cent to HK$33.60. Tencent Holdings added 0.7 per cent to HK$645.50 and HSBC Holdings rose 0.9 per cent to HK$113.40.

The record US shutdown may end as soon as Wednesday after the Senate passed a temporary funding bill, buoying stocks. Meanwhile, investors are bracing for a deluge of delayed data once agencies reopen.

A private jobs report showed US companies cut 11,250 jobs per week on average in the four weeks up to October 25, boosting the chances of a Fed rate cut at the US central bank’s next policy meeting in December.

Other major Asia-Pacific markets traded higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.1 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.9 per cent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3 per cent.

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