HSI Manages To Stay In Black Despite Profit Taking

Hong Kong stocks finished marginally higher on Monday, clocking up a sixth straight gain, following a surprise jump in US jobs creation last month, though gains were capped by profit-taking.

The Hang Seng Index eneded the day, up just over six points, at 24,776.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2 percent, to 2,937 while the Shenzhen Composite Index closed flat, at 1,856.

Tokyo rose more than 1 percent, while Wellington surged more than 3 percent after New Zealand officials reported no active cases of coronavirus for the first time since the pandemic began, and said the country was free of the disease – adding that restrictions would be lifted.

Seoul added 0.1 percent, while Mumbai, Taipei and Singapore jumped more than 1 percent, with Jakarta 3 percent higher. Bangkok and Manila were also higher.

"In the space of four weeks we've seen history made as the US economy posted a record number of job losses in one month, only to be followed by a record number of jobs gains in the following month," said Michael Hewson at CMC Markets.

But he added: "Despite all of the enthusiasm over last month’s jobs report it doesn’t change the fact that US unemployment is still well above post financial crisis levels, and is likely to remain so for quite some time." (AFP)