The China stock market has moved lower in two of three trading days since the end of the two-day winning streak in which it had gathered almost 45 points or 2 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index ended just above the 2,300-point plateau, although now traders are looking for a positive bounce when the market opens on Friday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic with bargain hunting – particularly among the technology stocks – expected to boost the markets. Upbeat employment data from the U.S. adds to the positive sentiment. However, Microsoft reported after Thursday’s bell that profit was down, although it still beat estimates – keeping technology stocks in focus. The European markets were higher and the U.S. bourses were mixed – and the Asian markets are expected to split the difference.
The SCI finished modestly lower on Thursday following losses from the coal miners and environmental stocks.
For the day, the index retreated 18.31 points or 0.79 percent to finish at 2,302.60 after trading between 2,287.30 and 2,362.94. The Shenzhen Component Index plunged 104.23 points or 1.09 percent to end at 9,444.08 for a combined turnover of 253.95 billion yuan. Losers outnumbered gainers by 834 to 121 in Shanghai and by 1,352 to 160 in Shenzhen.
Among the actives, Guangzhou Devotion Thermal Technology dropped 5.96 percent, while Jiangsu Welle Environmental plunged 6.26 percent, Henan Shenhuo Coal plummeted 6.65 percent, Shandong Yisheng Livestock dipped 6.51 percent, Ping An Bank declined 2.99 percent and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China jumped 1.43 percent.
The lead from Wall Street is mixed as stocks fluctuated over the course of the trading day on Thursday, with traders weighing upbeat jobs data and earnings news against disappointing quarterly results from tech giant Apple (AAPL).
The tech-heavy NASDAQ posted a notable loss due in large part to a steep drop by shares of Apple, with the iPad and iPhone maker falling by 12.4 percent to its lowest closing level in a year.
After the close of trading on Wednesday, Apple reported better than expected first quarter earnings but on weaker than expected sales. The company also reported iPhone sales that missed expectations and provided disappointing second quarter revenue guidance.
Meanwhile, most stocks moved higher after the Labor Department said that initial jobless claims unexpectedly dipped to 330,000 last week, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week’s unrevised figure of 335,000. Economists had expected claims to climb to 355,000 – but instead fell to their lowest level since 318,000 in the week ended January 19, 2008.
Additionally, shares of Netflix (NFLX) moved sharply higher after the online video service provider reported an unexpected Q4 profit. Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Xerox (XRX), and United Continental (UAL) also posted notable gains after reporting their quarterly results before the start of trading.
The major U.S. averages were mixed as the NASDAQ fell 23.29 points or 0.7 percent to finish at 3,130.38, while the S&P 500 inched up 0.01 points or less than a tenth of a percent to end at 1,494.82 and the Dow rose 46.00 points or 0.3 percent to close at 13,825.33.
In economic news, an indicator of China’s manufacturing performance rose to its highest level in 24 months in January, a survey from Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The headline HSBC/Markit purchasing managers’ index climbed to 51.9 in January from 51.5 in December.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion of the sector. The manufacturing output index increased to a 22-month high of 52.2 in January from 51.9 in December.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.comMarket Analysis