STOCKS | Dow Hits Record as U.S. Stocks Extend Gains; Hang Seng Falls, A-Shares Rise

U.S. stocks extended gains and the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high. According to Ming Pao, China released economic data this morning showing retail sales and fixed-asset investment fell and missed expectations, while industrial output slightly beat forecasts. Hong Kong stocks opened lower and extended declines, while mainland China’s A-shares rose. The Bank of Japan raised interest rates as expected to a 31-year high, and the Nikkei 225 index broke above the 70,000 level for the first time.