The Australian S&P/ASX 200 closed up 81.50 points or +1.23%, and the All Ordinaries Index closed up +1.32% at 6,888.00 points, following gains in other Asian markets. The top gainers were Pendal (+9.31%), and EML Payments. +7.35%, and Wisetech Global+7.16%. The losers were Nuix-13.01%, Appen Ltd-3.17%, and A2 Milk-2.44%.
China’s Shanghai Composite closed more than 1.5% higher at 3,278.10 points, led by real estate stocks. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) urged commercial banks to expand credit lines for high-end real estate projects. Ce Link (+20%), Kunshan Guoli Electronic Technology (+20%), and Nanjing Railway New Technology Co (+20%) were the best performers. Shenzhen Kexin Communication-12.23%, Anhui Hyea-10.84%, and Pharmaron Beijing-10.57% were the worst performers.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed at 20,846.18 points, 2.70% higher than the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which gained more than 600 points on Friday (July 15) thanks to strong U.S. economic data. The winners were Comerstone Financial Holdings(+42.86%), Foxconn Interconnect(+32.65%) and Hao Bai International Cayman(+31.58%). The losers were China Zenith Chemical-32.76%, Kingkey Intelligence Culture Holdings-28.57%, Fameglow-22.11%.
The South Korean Composite (KOSPI) closed at 2,375.25, up 44.27 or +1.90%. The best performers were Samsung Electronics+3.17%, SK Hynix+2.33%, and Hyundai Motor+1.09%. The worst performers were Kt Skylife-7%, Caltech Co Ltd-5.58%, and KR Motors Co-4.26%.
Japanese stock markets are closed today (July 18) for Marine Day.
Thai SET closed at 1,544.81 points, up 11.44 points (+0.75%). The best performers were AQ Estate+50%, Well Graded Engineering+29.93% and Teka Construction+26.59%. The biggest losers were Mega Leipzig-9.95%, PM Thoresen Asia Holdings-9.48%, and Kerry Express Thailond-9.13%.