· Asia stocks mixed as virus cases stateside surge again; China keeps benchmark lending rate unchanged
Stocks in Asia traded mixed on Monday as the number of coronavirus cases stateside soared again.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed 0.18% lower at 22,437.27 while the Topix index ended its trading day 0.23% lower at 1,579.09. South Korea’s Kospi closed 0.68% lower at 2,126.73.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dipped 0.75%, as of their final hour of trading, with shares of Chinese tech giant Alibaba dropping more than 2%. Mainland Chinese stocks were mixed on the day. The Shanghai composite dipped slightly to about 2,965.27 while the Shenzhen component added 0.294% to around 11,702.44.
Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 closed above the flatline at 5,944.50.
Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index slid 0.18%.
China kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged on Monday, with the 1-year loan prime rate left at 3.85%. The 5-year loan prime rate was also kept steady at 4.65%.
· China's startup board index hits 4-1/2-year high on fresh reforms
China’s startup board index hit its highest in more than four years on Monday, as investors cheered Beijing’s fresh reforms in its capital markets to help bolster the world’s second-largest economy.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.08% at 2,965.27, while the blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.08%.
The start-up board ChiNext Composite index climbed 1.01%, its highest since Jan. 7, 2016.
· European markets fall as U.S. coronavirus cases surge; Wirecard down another 45%
European stocks retreated Monday as investors react to a surge in coronavirus cases in the States, and growing concerns over a rise in infections in Germany.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 0.9% in early trade, oil and gas stocks dropping 1.8% to lead losses as all sectors and major bourses slid into negative territory.
Wirecard plummeting Shares of Germany’s Wirecard continued to nosedive on Monday morning, falling a further 45% after the payments company said on Monday that the $2.1 billion missing from its accounts probably does not exist.
The company’s stock has been in freefall since the balance sheet inconsistency was revealed last week, leading to the resignation of CEO Markus Braun on Friday.
· Thailand marks 28 days without local transmission, aims to ease travel
Thailand hopes to ease some coronavirus restrictions on foreigners entering the country after going for 28 days without recording any domestic transmissions, a senior official said on Monday.
Those who will benefit from the easing of restrictions will include business executives, skilled workers and foreigners who live in Thailand.
“The first three groups will be able to return to Thailand and stay in 14-day state quarantine,” said the spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, Taweesin Wisanuyothin.
Reference: CNBC, Reuters
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