Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region saw a decline on Thursday, Oct. 19. The Hong Kong market experienced a drop for the second consecutive session.
Hong Kong
The Hang Seng Index (HSI) of Hong Kong dropped by 2.5% to 17,295.89. Among the Hang Seng Index constituents, China Life Insurance (2628) witnessed the largest drop, with shares falling by 6.7% on Thursday. JD.com (9618) and Baidu (9888), both internet-related companies, also saw a decline, with shares falling by 5.4% and 5.3% respectively. On a positive note, Sunny Optical Technology (2382), a company specializing in optical instruments, saw the largest increase in Hong Kong, with shares rising by 8.7%. Lenovo Group (992), a computers/consumer electronics firm, and Sands China (1928), a gambling industries company, also saw an increase in their share values by 6.3% and 3.4% respectively.
Japan
The Nikkei 225 Index (NIK) weakened by 1.9% to 31,430.62. Pharmaceuticals company Daiichi Sankyo (4568) experienced the largest decrease among the Nikkei 225 Index constituents, with shares dropping by 7.0%. SCREEN Holdings (7735), a semiconductors firm, and Yaskawa Electric (6506), an industrial electrical equipment company, also witnessed a decline of 5.9% and 5.0% respectively. On the other hand, Keio (9008), a rail passenger transport company, saw the largest increase with shares rising by 2.4%. Odakyu Electric Railway (9007), a rail transport firm, and Canon (7751), an electronic office equipment company, also experienced gains, with shares rising by 1.9% and 1.6% respectively.
Other Markets
The Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) of Chinese companies declined by 1.7% to 3,005.39. Singapore’s FTSE Straits Times Index (STI) decreased by 1.2% to 3,100.37. South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index (180721) dropped by 1.9% to 2,415.80, while the S&P/ASX 200 Benchmark Index (XJO) of Australian stocks fell by 1.4% to 6,981.60.
