China
Hong Kong's stock market ended higher Wednesday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 0.17 percent to close at 25,818.93 points.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 0.01 percent to end at 8,915.12 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 0.19 percent to end at 5,499.3 points.
Hong Kong stocks close higher
International gold prices surged to fresh record highs on Wednesday driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, tight market supply and demand, and rising safe-haven demand.
Since the beginning of this year, global gold prices have climbed more than 70 percent.
On Wednesday, the most actively traded gold futures contract for February 2026 on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 46.3 U.S. dollars to settle at 4,505.7 dollars per ounce.
Meanwhile, spot gold prices in London also passed the 4,500-U.S.-dollar-per-ounce mark.
Analysts said heightened geopolitical pressure stemming from tensions between the United States and Venezuela, coupled with a sustained decline in the U.S. dollar index, has provided some support to prices of dollar-denominated precious metals futures.
Data show that the U.S. dollar index has fallen nearly 10 percent so far this year and may be headed for its worst annual performance since 2003.
Gold prices hit record highs amid geopolitical tensions
