Asia-Pacific markets traded in a narrow range during a shortened Christmas Eve session on Tuesday, reflecting mixed sentiment as investors reacted to gains in U.S. tech stocks and regional economic data.
By 11:30 am AEDT (12:30 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 hovered near the flatline with a slight 0.1% decline during its shortened trading session. South Korea's Kospi 200 inched up 0.1%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 remained traded flat.
Economic concerns weighed on sentiment in South Korea, as the Bank of Korea reported that consumer confidence fell sharply in December. The consumer sentiment index dropped to 88.4, the lowest level in over two years.
Market participants are also keeping a close eye on developments surrounding the potential merger between Japanese automakers Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi.
In the U.S., all major indices posted gains. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 5,974.1, boosted by tech sector strength, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1% to close at 19,764.9. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2%, ending the day at 42,907.0.
Top gainers in the S&P 500 included Broadcom , Advanced Micro Devices , and Microchip Technology, adding 5.2%, 4.5%, and 4.3%, respectively.
Among decliners, Carnival Corp slipped 4%, Paramount Global lost 2.9%, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings dipped 2.9%.
Mainland Chinese markets were mixed overnight, with the Shanghai Composite losing 0.5% to 3,351.3, while the CSI 300 added 0.2% to 3,933.6.
In India, stocks advanced, with the BSE Sensex closing 0.6% higher at 78,540.2, reflecting broader optimism across the region.
Meanwhile, Europe saw a mixed trading session. Germany's DAX edged down 0.2% to 19,848.8, while France's CAC 40 was flat at 7,272.3. In the U.K., the FTSE 100 gained 0.2% to 8,102.7.