Asia markets mostly rise as investors shrug off weak U.S. retail sales, assess China inflation
November 19, 2025, China, Shanghai: Boats on the Huangpu River pass by downtown Shanghai. The tallest building on the skyline is Shanghai Tower (behind).
Bernd von Jutrczenka | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher on Wednesday, extending gains despite artificial intelligence fears and weak economic data spooking U.S. investors.
The US December retail sales report showed consumer spending remained flat, missing the 0.4% monthly increase that economists polled by Dow Jones had expected.
Investors in Asia are evaluating the latest data from China.
The country’s consumer price index rose 0.2% in January from a year earlier, according to data released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday. That’s below economists’ forecast for a 0.4% increase in a Reuters poll; This is a sign that deflationary pressure continues in the absence of stronger stimulus.
of Australia S&P/ASX 200 It increased by 1.43%.
South Korea’s kospi It continued its rise for a third day, rising 0.6%, while the small-cap Kosdaq was 0.55% higher.
of hong kong Hang Seng Index It rose 0.13% while the mainland CSI 300 lost 0.26%.
Japanese markets are closed for a public holiday.
