Hanoi - Most emerging-market stocks rose amid speculation China will take steps to support economic growth.
Commodity producers fell while Russia’s ruble weakened.
A gauge of Hong Kong-traded Chinese shares climbed 0.7 percent after a report the central bank will inject cash into smaller banks.
DP World gained 2.1 percent after agreeing to buy Dubai’s industrial parks operator for $2.6 billion (R29 billion).
PetroChina sank 2.4 percent to lead energy companies lower as oil slid.
The ruble lost 0.8 percent versus the dollar.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index was little changed at 995.93 at 8:26 am in London as 369 shares gained and 259 declined.
The People’s Bank of China is asking city lenders to apply for cash to support loans to smaller enterprises, according to an official with knowledge of the matter.
Brent crude extended losses from a four-year low.
“The market is reacting positively to the PBOC move as it is an expansion tool,” said Gavin Parry, managing director of Parry International Trading in Hong Kong.
The emerging-markets gauge has fallen 0.9 percent this year and trades at 11 times projected 12-month earnings, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
The MSCI World Index has dropped 3.1 percent this year and is valued at 15.2 times.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index climbed 0.7 percent to its highest close since September 17, paced by gains in Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and insurers.
Bank Loans
Financial institutions in some provinces are submitting applications for collateralised central bank loans, the person told Bloomberg News.
The PBOC will later decide the total size of the injections, which could run into tens of billions of yuan, the official said.
The PBOC move comes as data showed China’s industrial output growth and fixed-asset investment in October trailed estimates.
The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4 percent.
Taiwan equities rose 0.7 percent as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Hon Hai Precision Industry led gains.
Dubai’s equity gauge climbed 1 percent as DP World rose to a six-week high.
The company, which operates ports from China to Peru, agreed to buy Dubai’s industrial parks operator Economic Zones World FZE.
The company also plans to delist its shares from the London Stock Exchange.
Five out of 10 industry groups in the developing-nation measure rose, paced by health-care shares.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Cipla Ltd. gained at least 1.5 percent in Mumbai before their earnings today.
Gauges of energy and raw-material producers slid the most.
PetroChina, the nation’s biggest explorer, sank to a six-month low.
Gold Fields and AngloGold Ashanti dropped at least 1.6 percent in Johannesburg after bullion extended losses.
The ruble weakened for a second time in three days while the Micex Index climbed 0.2 percent.
The European Union and the US will weigh further sanctions against Russia’s economy and Ukrainian separatists today, after the reported movement of tanks, artillery and combat troops into eastern Ukraine.
The Kospi index fell 0.3 percent, halting a five-day advance, while the Philippine equity gauge lost 0.5 percent. India’s S&P BSE Sensex retreated from a record. - Bloomberg News