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ASIA STOCKS: Asian Equities Mixed, HK Equities Outperform

ASIA STOCKS
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Asian equities are mixed today, with the majority of gains coming from HK listed equities driven by a strong rally in technology shares, particularly following Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s impressive Q4 earnings, which beat estimates and boosted optimism around China’s AI sector. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed nearly 0.6%, on track for a sixth consecutive weekly gain of 1%, its longest winning streak in almost a year.

  • Japanese stocks swung between gains and losses, with the Topix Index 0.15% lower, while the Nikkei up 0.1% as a stronger yen initially weighed on exporters, though BoJ's Gov Ueda’s comments on maintaining easy financial conditions weakened the yen, mitigating some losses.
  • South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2%, reflecting caution amid U.S. tariff threats, while Taiwan’s Taiex rose 0.95%, buoyed by tech strength with TSMC up 1% as a key driver in the semiconductor sector amid global AI demand.
  • Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.3%, consumer discretionary stocks plunged 2% after RBA's Gov Bullock’s hawkish stance on interest rates, signaling no cuts amid persistent inflation. Guzman y Gomez shares fell as much as 12% after reporting a narrowed 1H restaurant margin, weighing on the consumer discretionary sector, while the  ASX 20 Materials sector rose 1.3% due to higher iron ore prices, offsetting some losses.

The overall market uptrend is tempered by geopolitical worries, including U.S.-Ukraine tensions and Trump’s tariff plans, but Alibaba’s results and AI optimism have overshadowed these concerns, driving tech-led gains.

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Asian equities are mixed today, with the majority of gains coming from HK listed equities driven by a strong rally in technology shares, particularly following Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s impressive Q4 earnings, which beat estimates and boosted optimism around China’s AI sector. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed nearly 0.6%, on track for a sixth consecutive weekly gain of 1%, its longest winning streak in almost a year.

  • Japanese stocks swung between gains and losses, with the Topix Index 0.15% lower, while the Nikkei up 0.1% as a stronger yen initially weighed on exporters, though BoJ's Gov Ueda’s comments on maintaining easy financial conditions weakened the yen, mitigating some losses.
  • South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2%, reflecting caution amid U.S. tariff threats, while Taiwan’s Taiex rose 0.95%, buoyed by tech strength with TSMC up 1% as a key driver in the semiconductor sector amid global AI demand.
  • Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.3%, consumer discretionary stocks plunged 2% after RBA's Gov Bullock’s hawkish stance on interest rates, signaling no cuts amid persistent inflation. Guzman y Gomez shares fell as much as 12% after reporting a narrowed 1H restaurant margin, weighing on the consumer discretionary sector, while the  ASX 20 Materials sector rose 1.3% due to higher iron ore prices, offsetting some losses.

The overall market uptrend is tempered by geopolitical worries, including U.S.-Ukraine tensions and Trump’s tariff plans, but Alibaba’s results and AI optimism have overshadowed these concerns, driving tech-led gains.