Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index rebounding from a four-week low, as consumer companies advanced. Chinese shares in Hong Kong fell after the nation’s industrial output matched the weakest growth since the global financial crisis.
Tencent Holdings Ltd. rose 0.6 percent in Hong Kong trading after the Internet company posted record third-quarter profit, withstanding a slowing Chinese economy. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. gained 3 percent in Sydney after Australia’s third-largest iron-ore supplier offered to repurchase $750 million in debt. Inpex Corp., climbed 4.2 percent in Tokyo after the energy explorer maintained its profit forecast above consensus following a drop in first-half earnings. Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. slumped 8.1 percent after cutting its full-year operating profit forecast by 37 percent.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.2 percent to 133.07 at 4:01 p.m. Hong Kong time. The gauge closed at its lowest level since Oct. 14 on Tuesday as slower-than-forecast inflation increased concern that demand is weakening in the Chinese economy. China’s industrial production and investment slowed further in October, showing the government’s pro-growth measures are yet to revive the nation’s old economic engines. Retail sales defied the weakness, rising more than economists forecast.
“Investors remain concerned about China,” said Chihiro Ohta, general manager of investment information at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo. “There are some warning signs of technical overheating in Japan markets, so it’s likely the buying fever will cool today and stocks won’t move much.”
Japan’s Topix index rose 0.4 percent to the highest close since Aug. 20. Taiwan’s Taiex index slipped 1.4 percent to a one-month low. Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.4 percent. South Korea’s Kospi index was little changed. New Zealand’s S&P NZX 50 Index added 0.2 percent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.5 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.2 percent.
Chinese shares in Hong Kong dropped as weaker-than-forecast growth in industrial output increased concern China’s economic slowdown is deepening, with the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index sliding 0.7 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index added 0.3 percent.
Wednesday’s data show old growth engines are faltering. Industrial output rose 5.6 percent in October from a year earlier, matching January through March’s reading which was the weakest since 2008. Fixed-asset investment increased 10.2 percent in the first 10 months, the slowest pace since 2000. Retail sales climbed 11 percent last month, the quickest gain this year.
E-mini futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.1 percent. The underlying measure gained 0.2 percent on Tuesday as health-care and consumer shares rose after equities’ steepest decline in six weeks.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Burgos in Singapore at jburgos4@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sarah McDonald at smcdonald23@bloomberg.net Matthew Oakley
