The China stock market has finished higher in consecutive trading days, surging almost 75 points or 3.7 percent along the way. The Shanghai Composite Index closed just above the 2,065-point plateau, although investors may choose to lock in gains on Tuesday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is broadly negative, thanks to negative economic data - as well as the likelihood of profit taking in some of the overbought bourses. The European and U.S. markets were firmly lower, and the Asian markets are expected to follow suit.
The SCI finished modestly higher on Monday following continued gains from the financial shares and the property stocks.
For the day, the index climbed 18.66 points or 0.91 percent to finish at 2,066.28 after trading between 2,043.33 and 2,074.06 on turnover of 110.2 billion yuan.
Among the gainers, China Fortune Land surged by the 10 percent daily limit, while Poly Real Estate spiked 3.5 percent, Gemdale climbed 1.2 percent, Industrial Bank collected 1.1 percent and Sinolink Securities jumped 6.1 percent.
The lead from Wall Street suggests consolidation as stocks moved lower on Monday. With the pullback, the markets partly offset the strength that was seen last week.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ tumbled 50.40 points or 1.2 percent to 4,226.39, while the Dow edged down 26.08 points or 0.2 percent to 16,276.69 and the S&P 500 slid 9.08 points or 0.5 percent to 1,857.44.
The downturn followed a report from Markit Economics showing that U.S. manufacturing activity fell more than expected in March as its flash PMI estimate for March came in at 55.5. While a reading above 50 indicates growth, the index is down from 57.1 in February and below estimates of 56.5.
Markit also noted that the European private sector continued to expand in March. The composite purchasing managers' index dipped to 53.2 from 53.3 in February but remained above 50.
Later today, China will see February results for the leading index from the Conference Board. In January, the leading index climbed 1.2 percent on month, while the coincident index added 0.2 percent.
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Market Analysis
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.