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Asian Markets
APAC markets mixed; oil jumps on US-Iran tensions
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday as investors assessed renewed tensions between the United States and Iran, while rising oil prices heightened concerns over the economic impact of prolonged instability in the Middle East. Investor sentiment remained cautious after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict, fuelling fears that the war could continue for an extended period. Iran reportedly submitted a revised proposal to U.S. negotiators focused on ending the conflict across the region. However, Trump dismissed Tehran’s response, describing it as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” in a Truth Social post. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS News on Sunday that the conflict with Iran was “not over”, reiterating that both Israel and the United States remained committed to limiting Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. Netanyahu’s remarks came ahead of Trump’s expected trip to China later this week, where he is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. By 11:30 am AEST (1:30 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had fallen 0.9%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.2%, while South Korea’s KOSPI 200 surged 4.5%. Oil prices extended gains following the latest geopolit
Asian Markets
APAC markets trade lower following US-Iran clashes
Asia-Pacific markets opened lower on Friday as investors reacted to renewed clashes between the United States and Iran, raising fresh concerns over the stability of the fragile ceasefire agreement. The United States and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, with both sides accusing the other of initiating the confrontation. President Donald Trump later claimed in a Truth Social post that U.S. forces had “completely destroyed” the Iranian units involved in the exchange, which included drones and small boats. Trump also warned Iran that further military action would follow if Tehran failed to agree to a nuclear deal. “Just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!” Trump wrote. By 10:40 am AEST, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had fallen 1.2%, South Korea’s KOSPI 200 declined 1.3%, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 retreated 0.4%. Oil prices surged following reports of the renewed hostilities, as Brent crude futures for July delivery climbed 2.8% to US$102.87 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures for June rose 2.5% to US$97.15 per barrel. The weaker regional session followed modest l
Asian Markets
APAC trades mixed; Nikkei hits fresh record high
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Thursday following a positive session on Wall Street overnight, where two of the three major United States benchmarks closed at fresh record highs. The broader regional rally came after President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be bombed “at a much higher level” if it failed to agree to a peace deal, even as reports suggested Washington and Tehran were nearing an agreement to end the conflict. By 10:50 am AEST (12:50 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had gained 1%, while South Korea’s KOSPI 200 edged 0.1% lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 4.3% to a fresh record high. Investors also digested minutes from the Bank of Japan’s latest policy meeting, which showed several board members believed interest rates may need to rise if the Iran war-driven energy shock persisted and fuelled broader inflationary pressures. According to the minutes, one policymaker said the BOJ should raise rates “without long intervals between adjustments”, while another stated the central bank "would need to raise the policy interest rate without hesitation” if the Japanese economy remained resilient despite the Middle East conflict. The minutes also noted: “many members expressed the recognition that, if su
Asian Markets
APAC on the rise; Kospi surges to record high
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Wednesday, tracking gains on Wall Street as easing oil prices and strong corporate earnings boosted investor sentiment, while signs of de-escalation in the Middle East further supported risk appetite. Investor optimism was lifted after United States President Donald Trump said efforts to secure a diplomatic resolution with Iran were progressing, prompting a temporary pause to the U.S. naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz. “We have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. The U.S. military had begun escorting commercial vessels through the waterway earlier in the week under “Project Freedom”. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that “two U.S. commercial ships, along with American destroyers, have already safely transited the strait, showing the lane is clear.” By 11:05 am AEST (1:05 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.7%, while South Korea’s KOSPI 200 surged 5.6% to a fresh record high. Japan’s Nikkei 225 remained closed for a public holiday. In economic data,
Asian Markets
ASX slips 0.7% as APAC quiet; RBA decision eyed
Asia-Pacific markets were largely subdued on Tuesday due to public holidays across key regional bourses, while the Australian sharemarket moved lower as investors monitored escalating tensions in the Middle East and awaited a crucial central bank decision. By 11:15 am AEST (1:15 am GMT), the S&P/ASX 200 had declined 0.7%. Major regional indices, including Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI 200, remained closed for public holidays, contributing to thinner trading volumes across the region. In Australia, economic data showed a sharp pickup in household spending, which rose 1.6% in March compared with 0.3% in the previous month, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Tom Lay, head of business statistics at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, said: “Household spending rose strongly in March, driven by a 5.1% rise in transport costs as fuel prices climbed in response to the conflict in the Middle East.” Fuel prices surged during the first week of March and peaked toward the end of the month, prompting motorists to make smaller and more frequent trips to petrol stations. Increased use of public transport also contributed to the rise in spending, suggesting some households are adjusting their beha

Asian Markets
APAC mixed as Kospi refreshes record highs
Asian markets traded mixed on Monday, with South Korean equities climbing to a fresh record high as investors assessed ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, alongside efforts to reopen key global shipping routes. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI 200 rose 3.1% by 11:25 am AEST (1:25 am GMT), extending gains after a strong performance in April, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2%. Markets in China and Japan remained closed for public holidays, resulting in thinner trading volumes across the region. Investor sentiment in the region was influenced by developments in the Middle East after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new initiative aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said the United States would attempt to “free” stranded ships impacted by the closure of the key waterway since the onset of the Iran conflict. The initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom”, is set to begin on Monday Middle East time and will prioritise assisting civilian vessels from countries not directly involved in the conflict. “U.S. military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15
Asian Markets
APAC markets rise as Wall St resets records
Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reached fresh record highs, supported by strong corporate earnings. Investor sentiment was buoyed by upbeat results from major US companies including Apple and Caterpillar, helping markets look beyond softer-than-expected economic data and renewed geopolitical tensions involving Iran. In early Asian trade, oil prices remained elevated amid ongoing concerns over potential escalation in the Middle East. Brent crude had earlier surged above $126 a barrel following reports that the US military was preparing to brief President Donald Trump on possible action against Iran. However, prices moderated slightly, with ICE Brent futures rising 1.4% to $111.90, while US West Texas Intermediate gained 0.61% to $105.71. By 11:35am AEST, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had risen 0.6%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.5%. South Korea’s KOSPI 200 remained closed for a public holiday, and several major regional markets, including China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, were shut for the May Day holiday. Economic data releases across the region provided a mixed picture. In Japan, core inflation slowed more
Asian Markets
APAC mixed as oil resurgence rattles markets
Asia-Pacific markets mostly declined on Thursday, tracking mixed leads from Wall Street as rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment, while investors continued to digest the Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision. Oil prices extended gains after reports indicated that United States President Donald Trump had instructed aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran. Additional upward momentum followed news that the United States had rejected Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signalling that the naval blockade would remain in place until an agreement is reached over Iran’s nuclear programme. By 12 pm AEST (2 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had fallen 0.7%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.5%. In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI 200 bucked the regional trend, rising 1.2% to fresh record highs. Economic data across the region painted a mixed picture. In Japan, factory output unexpectedly declined in March, highlighting the impact of supply disruptions linked to Middle East tensions. Industrial production fell 0.5% from the previous month, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, marking a second consecutive monthly contraction and missing expectations for a 1
Asian Markets
APAC markets trade lower; OPEC shock weighs
Asia-Pacific markets traded lower on Wednesday, following a weaker lead from Wall Street as investors digested developments surrounding OPEC and renewed concerns about the technology sector. The United Arab Emirates is set to exit OPEC on 1 May, dealing a significant blow to the oil-producing cartel, which has long coordinated output among some of the world’s largest energy exporters, particularly in the Middle East. Technology sentiment also came under pressure after a report indicated that OpenAI’s revenue and user growth had fallen short of internal targets. The Wall Street Journal reported that Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar had raised concerns to company leadership that the group may struggle to meet its computing contract obligations if revenue growth does not accelerate sufficiently. By 11:15 am AEST (1:15 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had fallen 0.4%, South Korea’s KOSPI 200 slipped 0.4%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 remained closed for a public holiday. Investors are also closely monitoring key economic data, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) scheduled to release inflation figures at 11:30 am AEST (1:30 am GMT). Markets expect annual inflation to rise to 4.8%, up from 3.7% in the previou