FX.co ★ Hang Seng Closes Little Changed Amid Mixed Sector Moves

On Thursday, the Hang Seng Index closed marginally lower at 25,835, experiencing a slight reversal after morning gains, following four consecutive days of declines. Financial stocks provided some support, mitigating losses in technology, property, and consumer sectors. This comes as the People's Bank of China opted to maintain its key lending rates at historic lows for the sixth consecutive meeting, underscoring its supportive economic policy. Investor sentiment was mixed amid reports that China is considering new measures to boost the property market, such as mortgage subsidies for first-time home buyers, greater income-tax deductions for mortgage holders, and reduced transaction costs. However, geopolitical concerns remain, particularly with reports of Beijing's plan to halt imports of Japanese seafood, adding to tensions between China and Japan regarding Taiwan. Economically, China successfully raised approximately USD 8.6 billion through recent dollar and euro bond issuances over the past two weeks. Notable performances included Techtronic Industries and KE Holdings, each climbing 4.6%, while CITIC Limited gained 1.8%. Conversely, Trip.com fell by 3.9%, Xiaomi declined by 3.8%, and Zijin Mining dropped by 2.9%.