Stocks in China and Hong Kong ended higher on Friday after Beijing released comments from its annual economic conference reaffirming its support for growth as expected, although both markets ended the week lower.
At the close, the Shanghai index increased by 0.41%, while the CSI300 index, which includes the largest companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen, increased by 0.63%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.75%.
Over the week, the CSI300 lost 0.1%, while the Hang Seng fell 0.4%.
Chinese leaders pledged Thursday to maintain a “proactive” fiscal policy next year that would boost both consumption and investment to support high economic growth, which analysts expect Beijing to maintain with a target of around 5%.
The tone appeared slightly more pro-growth than at the December Politburo meeting, with officials highlighting challenges, promising to stabilize the real estate sector and signaling more easing on the monetary, fiscal and credit fronts, Goldman Sachs said in a note.
Goldman Sachs projects that policy goals for 2026 will remain unchanged, including GDP growth of around 5%, consumer price rises of 2% and a budget deficit equal to 4% of GDP.
. In TOKYO, the Nikkei index increased by 1.4%, to 50,836 points.
. In HONG KONG, the HANG SENG index increased by 1.75% to 25,976 points.
. IN SHANGHAI, the SSEC index gained 0.41%, to 3,889 points.
. The CSI300 index, which brings together the largest companies listed in SHANGHAI and SHENZHEN, advanced 0.63%, to 4,580 points.
. In SEOUL, the KOSPI index rose 1.38% to 4,167 points.
. IN TAIWAN, the TAIEX index recorded an increase of 0.62%, to 28,198 points.
. IN SINGAPORE, the STRAITS TIMES index increased by 1.36%, to 4,582 points.
. IN SYDNEY, the S&P/ASX 200 index advanced 1.23%, to 8,697 points.
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