Update | Hong Kong stocks post best one-day gain since March on central bank’s scheme to spur lending
Chinese lenders rallied on Tuesday after the central bank moved to spur lending to small businesses
Hong Kong stocks posted their biggest one-day gain in seven months after a move by China’s central bank designed to spur lending.
The city’s benchmark index surged above the key 28,000-point level on Tuesday, the first trading session of the fourth quarter.
The Hang Seng Index added 2.3 per cent to 28,173 at the close, racking up the market’s biggest one-day gain since March 16, mainly led by advances in the banking sector, after China’s central bank said on Sunday it will cut the reserve requirement ratio, lowering the amount of cash some banks must hold against loans. The move should encourage lending to small businesses and the agricultural sector.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index that tracks major mainland companies listed in Hong Kong, also known as the H-share index, registered 3.6 per cent gain to close at 11,305.
“Market sentiment was lifted by the news of China cutting the reserve requirement ratio, and the surge in US stocks,” said Kenny Tang Sing Hing, vice-chairman and executive director of Jun Yang Securities.
After a month of consolidating, Tang believes the Hang Seng Index stands a chance of touching 28,500 points in October.
Apart from the winners from the banking sector, Geely Automobile, one of China’s largest non-state owned carmakers and owner of Volvo, jumped 12.3 per cent to HK$24.7 after Morgan Stanley doubled its target price to HK$30.
Index heavyweight Tencent rose 3.2 per cent to HK$346.8, as Credit Suisse raised its target price for the stock to HK$416.
Strong economic data from China is also supporting Hong Kong stocks.
China’s official manufacturing index rose to the highest level since 2012 on Saturday, indicating solid economic growth ahead of the 19th party congress, a key political meeting this month.
Mainland Chinese markets will remain closed throughout this week for the National Day holiday.
The Hong Kong stock market was closed on Monday for a public holiday. There are only three trading days this week, as Thursday is also a holiday.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1 per cent to 20,614 on Tuesday. South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.9 per cent, while the Sydney All Ordinaries dropped 0.5 per cent.
In the US market, the S&P 500 rose 0.4 per cent to close at an all-time high of 2,529.12 on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.7 per cent, while the Nasdaq Composite increased 0.3 per cent.
