Asian stocks rise on optimism over China stimulus

China’s Politburo vowed to embrace a “moderately loose” strategy for monetary policy in 2025, marking its first major shift in stance since 2011. The top leaders pledged to take a “more proactive” approach on fiscal policies, stabilizing property and stock markets, while promising to “forcefully lift consumption.” Investors will now shift focus to China’s annual closed-door Central Economic Work Conference, due later this week.