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China’s stock market witnessed a significant surge on Tuesday as Beijing unveiled its economic growth target of “around 5%” for 2024 during the prestigious “Two Sessions” meeting. This announcement propelled mainland China’s CSI 300 index to climb 0.7%, reaching 3,565.51, marking its highest level since late November. However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index experienced a contrasting trend, leading losses in Asia with a notable 2.65% decline.
Amidst this market activity, South Korea’s Kospi observed a slip of 0.93%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 remained marginally above the 40,000 mark. Taiwan’s weighted index soared to a record high, further accentuating the diverse movements across Asian markets. Additionally, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 recorded a slight decrease of 0.15%, closing at 7,724.20.
On the commodities front, gold futures hit a record high on Monday amidst speculations surrounding potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve later in the year. This surge in gold prices reflects market sentiment and uncertainty regarding future monetary policies.
In the United States, all three major indexes experienced a retreat, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite pulling back from their recent all-time highs. This adjustment in the U.S. markets comes amidst ongoing discussions and speculations surrounding economic policies and growth prospects.
Meanwhile, Japan is reportedly witnessing early signs of rising inflation and wages. Efforts are underway to curb the bargaining power of large corporations and bolster profits for smaller firms. The Bank of Japan has emphasized sustainable wage increases as a prerequisite for exiting its ultra-loose monetary policy, although officials have refrained from commenting on specific timelines or conditions for such actions.
As global markets navigate through evolving economic landscapes, investors and stakeholders remain vigilant, closely monitoring developments and policy decisions that may impact market dynamics in the coming months.
