Most emerging stocks rise as China rallies before holidays
By Bloomberg
Most emerging-market stocks rose as consumer-discretionary shares gained and Chinese equities headed for the best seven-day rally before the Lunar New Year holiday since 2007. Malaysia’s ringgit slid for a second day.
BYD Co. jumped 7.5 percent in Hong Kong, while Hyundai Motor Co. rose the most in five weeks in Seoul. The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.6 percent in the last trading session before the week-long holidays. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. tumbled 10 percent in Seoul after posting a monthly loss. Malaysia’s ringgit slid 0.2 percent versus the dollar, while China’s yuan fell to a one-week low.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index was little changed at 984.39 at 1:48 p.m. in Hong Kong, with 184 shares rising and 150 falling. Trading volume in the Shanghai stock gauge was 26 percent below the 30-day average before the holiday that starts on Wednesday. markets in Taiwan, Vietnam and India are closed for holidays. Talks between Greece and its creditors broke down as euro-area finance ministers refused to loosen their grip on the country’s economy.
“Investors are not trading that much before the holidays. In general, mainland investors are still bullish on more stimulus from the Chinese government,” Thebes Lo, a Hong Kong- based vice president at Kim Eng Securities Ltd., said by phone. “The Greek talks does put some uncertainty into the market.”
The developing-nation gauge has risen 3 percent this year and trades at 11.8 times 12-month projected earnings, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The MSCI World Index has gained 2.5 percent in 2015 and is valued at a multiple of 16.6.
China Gains
Five out of 10 industry groups in the developing market gauge advanced, led by consumer-discretionary companies and industrial shares. BYD, a manufacturer of electric cars and batteries, extended gains, poised for the biggest four-day increase since May 2009.
Chinese shares related to electric vehicles have rallied amid bets they will benefit from Apple Inc.’s entry into the industry. There is speculation BYD may cooperate with Apple for certain kinds of car parts, according to Tanrich Securities Co. Apple is developing an electric vehicle, people familiar with the matter said.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 0.4 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index headed for the longest winning streak since Nov. 28. The gauge has rallied 52 percent during the past 12 months amid speculation that monetary stimulus will revive growth in the world’s second-largest economy.
Property Prices
A gauge of property companies in Shanghai rose for a seventh day. Data showed new-home prices rose in more Chinese cities in January from a month earlier.
Samsung Fire & Marine tumbled the most since April 2002 after the stock was cut to neutral at Credit Suisse Group AG. The Kospi index added 0.2 percent, its third day of increases.
The ringgit headed for the steepest loss since Feb. 11. The yuan fell 0.08 percent after data signaled capital is leaving the country amid speculation the central bank will ease monetary policy to help the economy.
Thailand’s SET Index dropped 0.5 percent, while the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index declined 0.2 percent.
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