Chinese Stocks Inch Marginally Following Appeals for 5% Economic Growth Goal for 2025

The benchmark KOSPI was nearly flat to close at 2,481 points on Thursday, pausing after rallying for three consecutive sessions, as chip stocks traded mixed following strong earnings from US chipmaker Nvidia.

However, optimism was tempered as the results still showed a slowdown compared to the previous three quarters and fell short of high investor expectations.

Index heavyweight Samsung Electronics soared 2.2%, while its rival and Nvidia supplier, SK Hynix, tumbled 0.8%, reversing earlier gains.

Among healthcare stocks, Samsung Biologics dropped 0.3%, while Celltrion surged 1.7%, after announcing a KRW 100 billion share buyback to enhance shareholder value.

In economic news, South Korea's exports rose 5.8% year-on-year during the first 20 days of November.

Investors are now awaiting the Bank of Korea's rate decision, with expectations for it to remain at 3.25%.

The benchmark KOSPI was nearly flat to close at 2,481 points on Thursday, pausing after rallying for three consecutive sessions, as chip stocks traded mixed following strong earnings from US chipmaker Nvidia.

However, optimism was tempered as the results still showed a slowdown compared to the previous three quarters and fell short of high investor expectations.

Index heavyweight Samsung Electronics soared 2.2%, while its rival and Nvidia supplier, SK Hynix, tumbled 0.8%, reversing earlier gains.

Among healthcare stocks, Samsung Biologics dropped 0.3%, while Celltrion surged 1.7%, after announcing a KRW 100 billion share buyback to enhance shareholder value.

In economic news, South Korea's exports rose 5.8% year-on-year during the first 20 days of November.

Investors are now awaiting the Bank of Korea's rate decision, with expectations for it to remain at 3.25%.

Bitcoin broke above $97,000 on Thursday, hitting fresh record highs and inching closer to the key $100,000 mark as Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House raised optimism about a more favorable US regulatory environment.

Throughout his campaign, Trump has expressed strong support for cryptocurrencies, pledging to make the US the “crypto capital of the planet” and to accumulate a national stockpile of Bitcoin.

In the wake of the election, US-based Bitcoin ETFs have attracted over $4 billion in inflows.

Meanwhile, Galaxy Digital Holdings CEO Mike Novogratz highlighted on X that countries are increasingly purchasing Bitcoin in large volumes, signaling a notable shift toward global adoption of the digital currency.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 Index decreased 282 points or 0.74 percent on Thursday.

Losses were driven by IHI (-3.83%), Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (-3.59%) and East Japan Railway (-3.52%).

Biggest rises came from Tokyo Gas (4.96%), M3 (4.40%) and Taiheiyo Cement (4.16%).