Chinese stocks close flat after hitting six-week low, defence sector jumps

Chinese stocks closed flat after hitting a six-week low, with the Shanghai Composite index slightly up by 0.05%. The CSI Defence Index surged 3.5% following geopolitical tensions with Japan. The tech sector showed gains, while banking and energy sectors declined. Analysts predict market fluctuations before December's Central Economic Work Conference. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 2%, driven by tech stocks and Alibaba's AI launch. Federal Reserve comments on potential interest rate cuts boosted market sentiment.