The China stock market has finished higher in four straight sessions, gathering almost 50 points or 1.5 percent along the way. The Shanghai Composite Index now rests just beneath the 3,390-point plateau and it may extend its gains on Thursday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic following the release of the latest batch of FOMC minutes, plus another bump in crude oil prices. The European and U.S. markets were slightly higher and the Asian markets are expected to follow suit.
The SCI finished slightly higher on Wednesday following gains from the financials and a mixed bag from the property sector.
For the day, the index gathered 5.30 points or 0.16 percent to finish at 3,388.28 after trading between 3,358.80 and 3,395.78. The Shenzhen Composite Index dipped 3.71 points or 0.18 percent to end at 2,026.47.
Among the actives, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China climbed 0.98 percent, while Bank of China collected 0.72 percent, Agricultural Bank of China jumped 1.59 percent, Vanke advanced 1.05 percent, Gemdale eased 0.09 percent, China Petroleum and Chemical (Sinopec) added 0.17 percent, China Life collected 0.73 percent and PetroChina was unchanged.
The lead from Wall Street offers marginal support as stocks turned in a lackluster performance on Wednesday but ended modestly higher - allowing the major averages to hit new record closing highs.
The Dow edged up 42.21 points or 0.18 percent to 22,872.89, while the NASDAQ rose 16.30 points or 0.25 percent to 6,603.55 and the S&P 500 crept up 4.60 points or 0.18 percent to 2,555.24.
The minutes of the Fed's September meeting said many participants expressed concern that the low inflation readings this year might reflect not only transitory factors but also the influence of developments that could prove more persistent.
The Fed subsequently said many participants thought that another increase in interest rates later this year is likely to be warranted if the medium-term outlook remained broadly unchanged.
Crude oil prices rose Wednesday after the Energy Information Administration said U.S. crude oil production in 2018 to rise more than expected. November West Texas Intermediate crude rose 38 cents or 0.8 percent to $51.30 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a third day of gains.
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December 26, 2025 08:42 ET Third quarter economic growth data from some major economies including the U.S. were the main news in this holiday shortened week. GDP growth and industrial production data from the U.S. helped to boost morale, while the consumer confidence survey results were less upbeat. In Europe, the quarterly economic growth data from the U.K. drew attention, while the minutes of the Australian central bank’s latest policy session was in focus in Asia.