HSI Ends Flat As Trade-talk Anxiety Prevails

Hong Kong stocks ended flat on Wednesday after swinging in and out of positive territory all through the day as investors keep tabs on developments in the China-US trade spat.

The Hang Seng Index inched up just over two points, to end at 27,008.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.1 percent up, at 2,581 while the Shenzhen Composite Index gained 0.1 percent, to close at 1,316.

Tokyo stocks recovered from earlier losses and the Nikkei 225 index ended down just 0.1 percent, at 20,593.

Sydney was down 0.3 percent while Singapore shed 0.5 percent and Seoul added 0.5 percent. Wellington, Taipei and Manila were all lower while Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta inched up.

The mood remains cautious, with the rally that has characterised the start of the year stuttering owing to a slowing Chinese economy, a softer global outlook and other issues including Brexit and the US government shutdown, which shows no sign of ending soon.

On currency markets the yen eased against the dollar after the Bank of Japan again revised down its inflation forecasts as it struggles to achieve its long-sought two percent rate. It said the decision to revise down the forecast was "due primarily to the decline in crude oil prices". (AFP)