The Hang Seng rose 82 points, or 0.3%, to close at 26,232 on Friday, snapping two-day declines amid modest gains in consumer and property stocks. In China, the Shanghai benchmark hovered near a decade high after fresh inflation data showed consumer prices in December rose at the fastest annual pace in nearly three years, led by the strongest food price increase in 14 months. Producer price deflation also eased, with declines slowing to the mildest pace in 16 months, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to curb intense price competition and stabilize margins. Notable movers included Laopu Gold (5.4%), Kuaishou Technology (3.7%), Zhaojin Mining (3.6%), CK Hutchison (3.6%), and Zijin Gold Intl. (2.6%). However, the city’s markets slipped 0.4% for the week, reversing prior gains, as geopolitical tensions and caution ahead of China’s trade and credit data weighed, while focus shifted to the U.S. ahead of jobs figures and a Supreme Court tariff ruling.
