Analyst recaps Asian stock markets' Monday performance

Hong Kong and Tokyo markets both declined on Monday as investors remain concerned that tech stocks, particularly those in the AI sector, are currently overvalued.

The Hang Seng Index was down 1.34 percent to close at 25,628.88 points. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 1.78 percent to end at 8,917.70 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index slumped 2.48 percent to 5,498.42 points.

Meanwhile, the Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended 668.44 points, or 1.31 percent, lower at 50,168.11 points.

Timothy Pope, market analyst for CGTN, recapped stock market performances in Hong Kong and Tokyo. He noted that although Hong Kong stocks mostly fell on Monday, there were still some individual winners, including the Chinese sportswear makers ANTA and Li-Ning.

"In Hong Kong, most sectors traded lower today. The Hang Seng [Index] dropped 1.3 percent, although there were a few individual winners, including the Chinese sportswear makers ANTA and Li-Ning. They are continuing to benefit from some market chatter about the possibility that one or the other will be successful in a buyout of the struggling German running shoe maker Puma. Li-Ning was the best-performing stock on the Hang Seng Index today, adding 5.4 percent. Hang Seng Bank was also up 0.3 percent after its board approved a buyout bid from HSBC, saying the price of 13.6 billion U.S. dollars was reasonable and fair and recommending that smaller shareholders vote 'yes' to the takeover, which would also amount to a take-private offer for the bank. The Vanke fallout pushed Hong Kong property stocks lower. We also saw Vanke's Hong Kong listing down 5.2 percent," said the analyst.

"Over in Japan, the Nikkei 225 slipped 1.3 percent, but just managed to hold on to the 50,000-point level. On Friday, the Tokyo markets managed to defy falls among the heavyweight chip stocks and rise -- the market as the whole. But today, that drag was too much to fight. There was a 6.4-percent drop for Advantest stock, and a 6-percent fall for the AI investor SoftBank. It was far from all bad though. More stocks rose on the Nikkei today than fell. There was a rotation into consumer-focused stocks like retail and railway shares. And banks were gaining ground as well, after a Bank of Japan (BOJ) survey released today, the quarterly Tankan survey. That showed sentiment among Japanese manufacturers is at a four-year high. And that seemed to reinforce expectations that there will be an interest rate rise by the BOJ on Friday. And that would be good for bank returns," he said.

Analyst recaps Asian stock markets' Monday performance

China's 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games officially concluded on Monday evening, capping an inspirational eight-day event that set new records for participation and athletic achievements.

Held for the first time jointly by Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area, the Games featured 46 competitive events and attracted more than 11,000 participants from 34 delegations, marking the largest turnout in the event's history.

Athletes shattered 15 world records and set 156 new national records in disciplines such as athletics, swimming, shooting, weightlifting, and track cycling.

The Games showcased not only extraordinary athleticism, but also the indomitable spirit of disabled competitors who transcended physical limitations through sport.

The 21-year-old Hong Kong para table tennis player Wong Yue-ching, a student at the University of Hong Kong, competed with only one-third the grip strength of an able-bodied person in her right hand. Wong used a wrist strap to secure her racket. She finished sixth in the women's singles class 7 event and credited the sport for transforming her life.

"[Playing table tennis] has completely rewritten my life. I want to become a teacher. Perhaps one day, I can teach children at a special school and share my story with them, to show that as long as you keep searching, you will surely find your path in life," said Wong.

This edition of the Games significantly increased the numbers of both Special Olympic and mass participation events, allowing more people to enjoy the fun of sports.

From seamless event organization to the creation of a comprehensive, region-wide barrier-free environment, the Games has set a benchmark and delivered a replicable model for future para-sporting events in China and beyond.

"Drawing on their complementary strengths and working in close coordination, with synchronized planning and implementation, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have extended the concept of disability inclusion far beyond the competition venues into all aspects of daily life. This not only showcases the remarkable achievements and vibrant momentum of Chinese modernization, but also highlights a new chapter in the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the advancement of the cause of the disabled," said Chang Zheng, deputy director of the Games' organizing committee.

China's 12th National Para Games conclude with record attendance, athletic achievements