Hong Kong stocks steady as rate-cut expectations fuel global risk appetite



Hong Kong stocks steadied, taking cues from US and regional markets following a rebound in risk appetite as investors bought the dip on expectations about interest-rate reductions by the Federal Reserve.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.1 per cent to 24,725.01 as of 11.07am local time. The Hang Seng Tech Index rose 0.2 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 0.3 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.5 per cent.

Personal computer maker Lenovo Group rallied 2.4 per cent to HK$10.85 after JPMorgan Chase raised the company’s profit projection for this year by 3 per cent, citing the resilience of the core business. Bank of China (Hong Kong) gained 2.7 per cent to HK$36.38. Machine tool maker Techtronic Industries slipped 0.3 per cent to HK$94.55 before its earnings release later on Tuesday. Alibaba Group Holding dropped 1.1 per cent to HK$114.90.

Major Asian markets all rose after dip buying helped US stocks recover most of the losses sparked by weak labour market data on Friday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.6 per cent, while South Korea’s Kospi rallied 1 per cent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 1.1 per cent.

Rates traders are now pricing in an interest-rate cut in September, with the probability rising to about 80 per cent. A US reduction will trigger a diversification from high-yielding US assets and a rotation to risk assets in Asia. It would also leave the door open for Asian central banks to loosen their monetary policies.

“The Fed is expected to make a quick pivot to a dovish stance,” said Xue Wei, an analyst at Topsperity Securities. “The trading window of interest-rate cuts is now coming.”

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