China stocks close up on strong activity data

SHANGHAI: China stocks closed higher on Monday, boosted by data that showed the country’s factory output and retail sales beat expectations in the January-February period, while the securities regulator’s latest policy measures also helped.

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• China’s Shanghai Composite Index jumped 0.9%, and the blue-chip CSI300 Index gained 1% at market close.

• Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng edged up 0.1%, and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index climbed 0.5%.

• Beijing reported industrial output climbed an annual 7% over January and February, while retail sales rose 5.5% on-year. But real estate remained a worry as property investment fell 9% on the year, underlining the case for further policy support.

• Asian shares also firmed as Chinese data surprised on the upside for once, while investors looked to navigate a minefield of central bank meetings this week that could see the end of free money in Japan and a slower glide path for US rate cuts.

• “January-February activity data came in stronger than market expectations,” Goldman Sachs said in a note. “We believe China’s sequential growth momentum remained solid in Q1 despite notable divergence across sectors. However, to secure the ambitious ‘around 5%’ growth target this year, more policy easing is still necessary, especially on the demand-side.”

• The China Securities Regulatory Commission published a set of rules on Friday that would tighten scrutiny over stock listings, public companies and underwriters, as regulators ramp up efforts to revive investor confidence.

• Shares in information technology, securities brokers and new energy jumped between 2.2% and 2.4%, while automobiles surged 4%.

• Tech giants listed in Hong Kong added 1.3%, with social media giant Tencent up 2.1%.

• The Hang Seng Mainland Properties Index slumped 2.1%, and the CSI 300 Real Estate Index slipped 0.5%, even as data showed that China’s fragile housing market opened this year with slower declines in property investment and sales.