Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose as investors digested a slew of key economic data across the region.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan gained 70.97 points, or 0.3%, to 27,516.53, as factory activity in February shrank at its fastest pace more than two years, a private survey showed.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 157.57 points, or 0.8%, to 19,785.94.
Technology and consumers related to reopening led gains in Hong Kong during Wednesday’s morning trade.
Tencent gained 5.5%, NetEase gained 6.9% and Alibaba rose 4.7%.
EV makers also saw gains, with Xpeng gaining 8.7%, Li Auto jumping 7.3%, and Baidu rising 5.6%.
Reopening-related consumer names also rose, with Budweiser Brewing Company up 6.4%, Anta Sports gaining 5% and Li Ning up 4.6%.
Australian markets after it was made known that Australia’s economy for 2022 grew 2.7% on an annualized basis.
CHINA
China’s National Bureau of Statistics also reported its official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 52.6 in February, the highest since April 2012. Moody’s expects China’s economy to grow by 5% for 2023, it said in a macro outlook report.
The Shanghai CSI 300 jumped 57.48 points, or 1.4%, to 4,126.94.
In other markets
Markets in Korea were shuttered for holiday.
In Singapore, the Straits Times slid 7.55 points, or 0.2%, to 3,255.08.
In Taiwan, markets returned from a long weekend as the Taiex gained 94.7 points, or 0.6%, to 15,598.47.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 removed 18.22 points, or 0.2%, to 11,876.35.
In Australia, the ASX 200 parted with 6.8 points, or 0.1%, to 7,251.60.
