Asia-Pacific markets experienced mixed results on the final trading day of 2023, as investors evaluated the implications of Xiaomi’s entry into the overcrowded electric-vehicle market in China. Xiaomi, a prominent consumer electronics company, revealed its plans to compete with automotive giants such as Tesla and Porsche by launching its first electric vehicle (EV). Despite spending over 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) on the development of their car model, the company’s shares in Hong Kong plummeted by more than 3% upon the announcement.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong remained stagnant at open, while China’s CSI 300 index experienced a modest increase of 0.16%. Although both indexes witnessed a surge of over 2% during the previous session, they still emerged as the biggest losers in the Asia-Pacific region for the year. The CSI 300 index endured an 11.8% decline throughout 2023, while the Hang Seng plummeted by 13.8%. In contrast, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined by 0.19% on the last trading day, but managed to secure the top spot as Asia’s best-performing market, garnering a substantial 28.5% gain. The broader Topix index, which had already soared by more than 25% in 2023, closed 0.24% higher.
Due to the closure of South Korea’s markets on Friday, the Kospi index reflected an impressive 18.7% growth for the year, while the Kosdaq index surged by 27.5%. Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index experienced a slight dip of 0.22% on the last trading day, temporarily putting a halt to two consecutive sessions of gains. However, the index still achieved a solid 7.76% growth throughout the year.
The S&P 500, a key indicator of the US stock market, finished marginally higher on Thursday, inching closer to a new all-time high as the penultimate trading day of the year drew to a close. With a gain of 0.04%, the S&P 500 closed at 4,783.35 points, positioning itself within reach of its previous record of 4,796.56 points set in January 2022. Additionally, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.14%, achieving a new record closing high. Conversely, the Nasdaq Composite experienced a slight decline of 0.03%.
As the final trading day of 2023 drew to a close, Asia-Pacific markets displayed a mixed picture. With Xiaomi’s entrance into the electric-vehicle market, investors grappled with the implications of increased competition for established automakers. While certain markets experienced notable gains throughout the year, China and Hong Kong’s indexes emerged as the biggest losers. Globally, the US stock market continued its upward trajectory, with the S&P 500 inching closer to an all-time high. As attention turns to the year ahead, market participants eagerly await the unfolding of new trends and developments that will shape the landscape of Asia-Pacific and global markets.