Hong Kong stocks rise as Wall Street rally boosts confidence in earnings growth
Investors shrug off weaker US Federal Reserve easing hopes and bet on resilient corporate profits into 2026
The Hang Seng Index increased 0.2 per cent to 25,818.93 at the close of trading, erasing the 0.1 per cent loss recorded on Tuesday. The Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 0.4 per cent. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.5 per cent while the CSI 300 Index lifted 0.3 per cent.
Hong Kong’s stock market traded for only half a day on Wednesday and will remain closed on Thursday and Friday for the Christmas holiday.
Leading the gainers, home-grown chipmaker SMIC surged 3.1 per cent to HK$71.05, and electric-vehicle maker BYD added 0.5 per cent to HK$93.60. Online-game provider NetEase advanced 0.2 per cent to HK$213.20, WeChat operator Tencent Holdings rose 0.2 per cent to HK$603 and lender HSBC Holdings climbed 1.2 per cent to HK$123.80.
Limiting the advance, travel-booking agency Trip.com retreated 0.8 per cent to HK$563.50, e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding fell 0.8 per cent to HK$146 and search-engine giant Baidu slid 0.3 per cent to HK$119.50. Sportswear maker Li Ning dropped 1.3 per cent to HK$19 and peer Anta Sports Products slipped 0.7 per cent to HK$81.70.
Overnight in the US, the S&P Index rose for a fourth day to close 0.5 per cent higher and the Nasdaq climbed 0.6 per cent, as risk appetite improved ahead of the Christmas holiday. Investors brushed off reduced expectations for near-term Fed easing after strong economic data, betting instead on resilient earnings growth into 2026.