China sat out a generally upbeat day for Asian stocks, while Europe is lower after some high-profile earnings disappointments
One day after the release of
downbeat manufacturing data, China was the sole decliner in Asia. Traders cast a wary eye on the government's anti-corruption crackdown, which triggered losses today for notable names such as Agricultural Bank of China and Dongfeng Automobile. However, Hong Kong managed respectable gains, taking a cue from
Wall Street's bullish start to the week, while upbeat sales data ushered Seoul-listed automakers higher. By the close, China's Shanghai Composite shed 0.3%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.9%, and South Korea's Kospi advanced 0.7%. Markets in Japan are closed for holiday.
European stocks are in the red at midday, with post-earnings losses from the likes of BMW, Standard Chartered, and UBS setting the tone. Volkswagen is also in focus, with the automaker fractionally lower after U.S. authorities expanded their emissions probe to the company's Audi and Porsche brands. At last check, the German DAX is down 0.5%, France's CAC 40 is off 0.3%, and London's FTSE 100 has edged 0.1% lower.
