** China's blue-chip CSI300 Index closed down 0.5%, while the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.4%.
** Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index dropped 1.4% and 1.3%, respectively.
** Other Asian stocks slipped, while the U.S. dollar was steadfast after U.S. CPI data and remarks from central bank officials worried investors that interest rates were going to be higher for longer.
** Meanwhile, a diplomatic rift between China and the United States deepened, with Beijing accusing Washington of flying high-altitude balloons into its airspace and that of other countries, as the U.S. military examined debris of a suspected Chinese spy balloon it downed this month.
** Investors also awaited further evidence of an economic
recovery after Beijing scrapped its strict zero-COVID policy in
December.
** "The market is likely to be range-bound/correct in
Feb-March due to lack of meaningful data/policy execution, but
(could) rise in 2Q-4Q23. Whether China utilises some new tools
to boost the economy is key," Jefferies said in a note.
** Real estate developers led Wednesday's decline after
China's official media Economic Daily said property policy
should be more precise to target real demand, and to prevent a
resurgence of speculation in the market.
** The CSI 300 Real Estate Index declined 2.3%,
and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Mainland Properties Index slumped nearly 4%.
** Shares in information technology added 2%,
while healthcare retreated 1.5%.
** Separately, China's central bank ramped up medium-term
liquidity injections as it rolled over maturing policy loans,
while it kept the interest rate unchanged, matching market
expectations.
(Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; editing by Uttaresh.V and
Subhranshu Sahu)
