02/16/2024 – 6:23
By Sergio Caldas*
São Paulo, 02/16/2024 – Stock markets in Asia and the Pacific closed mostly higher this Friday, after Wall Street accumulated gains for the second day in a row, with Hong Kong leading gains and Japan approaching another historic maximum.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index jumped 2.48% to 16,339.96 points, driven by technology shares. In Tokyo, the Japanese Nikkei rose 0.86%, to 38,487.24 points, reaching its highest level in 34 years, after reaching 38,865.06 points during the session, less than 100 points away from setting a new record. In Seoul, South Korea's Kospi advanced 1.34% to 2,648.76 points, helped by financial shares and the automotive and battery sectors.
In Oceania, the Australian stock market was also in the black, with an increase of 0.69% in the S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney, at 7,658.30 points.
An exception in the Asian region, Taiex fell 0.20% in Taiwan, to 18,607.25 points.
Wall Street's positive performance once again contributed to risk appetite in Asia and the Pacific. Yesterday, the New York stock exchanges advanced for the second consecutive session, with the S&P 500 renewing its closing high, after suffering robust losses on Tuesday (13), when US consumer inflation (CPI) data came in higher than expected. .
In mainland China, markets resume business on Monday (19), after being inactive for more than a week on the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday.
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*With information from Dow Jones Newswires
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