Hang Seng closes at new high

Equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region were higher to begin the week, with new records set in both Hong Kong and on the Shanghai Composite. The Hang Seng index added 2.86 percent to a new record close of 23,577.73. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite hit a new record during the session but settled back to close at 5,150.12, a gain of 0.83 percent on the day.

Elsewhere in the region, the Taiex was up 0.32 percent to 8,718.31 in Taiwan, while South Korea’s Kospi index added 0.65 percent to 1,803.03. In Australia the S&P/ASX200 was up 1.59 percent to 6,185.2 and the Sydney Ordinaries gained 1.61 percent to 6,184.9 on gains in the mining and retail sectors. The Straits Times index was 1.7 percent higher to 3,388.44 in Singapore. The biggest mover on the day was the Sensex, which advanced 2.89 percent to 14,842.38.

Gains in Tokyo were less exuberant, with the Nikkei 225 0.32 percent higher to 16,301.39. The Topix index added 0.12 percent to 1,587.76 and the Mothers market of small and mid-caps was up 0.59 percent to 731.08. The tobacco and internet sectors were higher, as were automobile manufacturers, but banks were lower on the session.

European markets were mixed on the day. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.33 percent to 1,514.43, while in Paris the CAC-40 gained 0.38 percent to 5,590.54. On the other hand, Madrid’s IBEX fell 0.2 percent to 14,305.5 while the Dax dropped 0.28 percent to 7,485.99 in Frankfurt. Banks, power generators and carmakers were up. Airlines were mixed, while the semiconductors sector fell on the day.

London’s markets were closed for a public holiday.

The New York equities markets were lower in early afternoon trade after new data showed existing home sales dropped and inventories were higher in July. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.22 percent lower to 13,349.93, while the Nasdaq Composite had dropped 0.49 percent to 2,564.19 and the S&P 500 fell 0.63 percent to 1,469.99. There were gains among home improvement retailers, while most computer makers were lower.

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