Asian Markets Rise as China Unveils Plan to Boost Consumer Spending

Wall Street's strong rally and China's new economic initiatives spark optimism, though concerns about U.S. trade policies linger.

Asian stock markets opened higher on Monday, with key indices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai posting gains following Wall Street's best performance in months.
China's government announced measures to stimulate consumer spending, including wage growth initiatives, property reforms, and expanded access to consumption loans.
Economic data from China showed industrial output grew nearly 6% year-on-year for the first two months of 2025, while retail sales rose by 4%, though the real estate sector remains weak.
U.S. markets rallied last Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recording their strongest gains of the year, driven by optimism over averted government shutdowns and rebounds in Big Tech stocks.
Lingering concerns about the impact of U.S. tariffs and trade policies on global markets and China's economy continue to weigh on investor sentiment.