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Asian Markets
APAC markets fall; yen intervention weighs on sentiment
Asian-Pacific markets opened lower on Monday despite falling oil prices after United States President Donald Trump cancelled a planned attack on Iran. By 11:50 am AEST (1:50 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.2%, Japan's Nikkei 225 had declined 1.9%, and South Korea's KOSPI 200 had fallen 4.6%. Japan's Finance Ministry said on Monday it had carried out a coordinated yen-buying intervention with the US Treasury on Friday, marking a rare joint effort by the two allies to curb sharp fluctuations in the Japanese currency. According to a statement by Minister of Finance Ms Satsuki Katayama: "On Friday 31st, July (U.S. Eastern Time), Japan's Ministry of Finance purchased the Japanese yen in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. "This joint action was taken pursuant to the U.S.-Japan Finance Ministers' Joint Statement issued in September 2025 and countered excessive volatility and disorderly movements in the Japanese yen in recent months. "The Japanese Ministry of Finance remains attentive and in close communication with our counterparts at the U.S. Treasury. We will not hesitate to conduct further joint intervention. "Japan also plans to utilise the Federal Reserve's Foreign and Internation
Asian Markets
APAC markets rally as AI optimism lifts chip shares
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher on Friday, tracking Wall Street’s sharp rebound as strong earnings from Amazon boosted investor confidence and pushed U.S. technology futures higher. By 12 pm AEST (2 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was trading 0.4% higher, Japan's Nikkei 225 had climbed 5.1%, and South Korea's KOSPI 200 surged 14.3%. South Korea’s chip giants led regional gains, with SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics soaring after blockbuster results from Amazon and Microsoft reignited optimism over artificial intelligence spending. SK Hynix was last trading 21.6% higher, putting it on track for its strongest daily gain on record, while Samsung Electronics jumped 18.7%. Japanese semiconductor stocks also rallied strongly, with Advantest gaining 17.9% and Tokyo Electron advancing 8.9%. SoftBank Group, which is viewed as an artificial intelligence proxy due to its ownership of Arm, surged 15.1%. Economic data from China showed manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracted in July, ending four consecutive months of expansion as export momentum that supported second-quarter growth began to fade. The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 49.2 in July from 50.3 in June, according to the
Asian Markets
APAC markets mixed; earnings, M.East tensions in focus
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Thursday as investors monitored major technology earnings results, while geopolitical tensions increased after U.S. forces resumed strikes against Iran in response to missile attacks on American forces in the region. By 11:45am AEST (1:45am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.4%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 2.2% and South Korea’s KOSPI 200 advanced 4.7%. Shares of Samsung Electronics rose 7% after the company reported second-quarter operating profit that beat expectations on strong artificial intelligence demand. The South Korean technology giant posted record second-quarter operating profit, rising 1,814% year over year, while revenue increased 130%. Profit climbed more than 56% from the previous quarter, while revenue rose more than 28%. Among data releases, South Korean business sentiment rebounded in July as manufacturing conditions improved, according to central bank data released on Thursday. The composite business sentiment index (CBSI) across all industries increased 0.8 points from the previous month to 98.5 in July, following a 1.2-point decline in June, according to the Bank of Korea. In Australia, total building approvals increased 7.2% in June to 18,32
Asian Markets
APAC markets fall as Kospi extends declines
Asia-Pacific markets traded broadly lower on Wednesday as renewed Middle East tensions weighed on investor sentiment after a brief pause in hostilities, with United States Central Command confirming American forces intercepted fresh missile attacks launched by Iran. By 12 pm AEST (2 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 1.5%, Japan's Nikkei 225 had fallen 1.7%, and South Korea's KOSPI 200 dropped 4.9%. South Korean technology stocks came under heavy pressure despite strong earnings from major chipmaker SK Hynix, which fell 3.8% despite reporting another record quarterly profit. SK Hynix reported revenue of 79.32 trillion won (US$54.55 billion), below expectations of 84.07 trillion won, while operating profit came in at 60.54 trillion won, below forecasts of 64 trillion won. Among data releases, Australia's consumer price index (CPI) increased 3.8% in the 12 months to June 2026, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Housing was the largest contributor to annual inflation, rising 6.8%, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages and recreation and culture, both increasing 3.3% over the year. ABS Head of Price Statistics Rachael McCririck said underlying inflation remained u
Asian Markets
APAC markets slide as Kospi plunges 8.3%
Asia-Pacific markets fell on Tuesday, led by South Korea's Kospi, where semiconductor stocks extended losses following another weak session for chipmakers on Wall Street overnight. By 11:50 am AEST (1:50 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.2%, Japan's Nikkei 225 had dropped 4.2%, and South Korea's KOSPI 200 had slumped 8.4%. The Korea Exchange activated circuit breakers on the Kospi after the index fell more than 8%, halting trading for 20 minutes. South Korean chipmakers suffered heavy selling pressure, with SK Hynix plunging 11% and Samsung Electronics falling 9.5% as investors extended a broader technology sell-off. Japan's semiconductor sector also weakened, with Tokyo Electron dropping 9.5%. SoftBank Group, which is viewed as a proxy for artificial intelligence investment through its stake in Arm, declined nearly 4.3%. Despite the market sell-off, South Korean consumer sentiment improved for a third consecutive month in July, supported by strong exports and large-scale investment plans, according to the Bank of Korea. The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) rose 0.2 points from June to 106.8. A reading above 100 indicates that optimists outnumber pessimists. In the United States, major index

Asian Markets
APAC mixed; investors monitor easing M.East tensions
Asia-Pacific markets opened the week mixed on Monday as investors assessed falling oil prices and easing tensions in the Middle East following a pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran. By 11:40 am AEST (1:40 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was trading 0.8% higher, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.1%, while South Korea's KOSPI 200 declined 0.6%. The moves followed a mixed session on Wall Street on Friday, with investors remaining cautious ahead of a major week of technology earnings and the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate decision. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%, the S&P 500 gained 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.6% as semiconductor stocks continued to weigh on technology shares amid concerns over artificial intelligence spending. In commodity markets, ICE Brent crude futures fell 3.9% on Friday to US$96.78 a barrel as easing Middle East tensions reduced concerns over potential supply disruptions. Spot gold edged 0.2% higher, settling at US$4,055.42 per ounce. Chinese markets extended losses on Friday, with the Shanghai Composite Index falling 1.6% to 3,814.2, while the CSI 300 declined 1.7% to 4,649.2. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 1% to 24,963.2, while India's BSE Se
Asian Markets
APAC stocks slide; investors retreat amid Iran fears
Asia-Pacific markets fell on Friday as rising oil prices and escalating tensions between the United States and Iran kept investors cautious, while mixed economic data across the region provided little support for risk appetite. By 12:15 pm AEST (2:15 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was trading 0.5% lower, Japan's Nikkei 225 had dropped 2.9%, and South Korea's KOSPI 200 was down 3.8%. Technology stocks were among the biggest decliners across the region. SK Hynix shares fell 5.3% in Seoul amid a broader sell-off in Asian chipmakers and following a Bloomberg report that the company had reached the 2.5% cap on converting local shares into U.S. American Depositary Receipts. Japan's inflation data showed headline consumer prices rose to 1.7% in June from 1.5% in May. Core inflation increased 1.6%, while the so-called "core-core" inflation measure, which excludes fresh food and energy prices, eased to 1.7%, marking its lowest level since August 2022. Meanwhile, S&P Global's flash Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data showed improving business activity in Australia, with both manufacturing and services sectors expanding at a faster pace in July. Australia's manufacturing PMI rose to 51.7 from 51.5, while services PMI cl
Asian Markets
APAC markets rise; Korea GDP beats expectations
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher on Thursday as investors balanced ongoing United States-Iran tensions in the Middle East with a busy earnings season and key economic data releases. By 11:50 am AEST (1:50 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was trading 0.8% higher, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.8%, and South Korea's KOSPI 200 advanced 3%. South Korean equities were supported by stronger-than-expected economic growth data, with exports helping offset pressure from geopolitical uncertainty. The South Korean economy expanded 0.6% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter according to advance data from the Bank of Korea, ahead of 0.4% growth expected. The result marked a slowdown from the previous quarter's 1.8% growth, which was the strongest quarterly expansion since the third quarter of 2020. On an annual basis, South Korea's real gross domestic product increased 3.7% in the second quarter, slightly below the first quarter's 3.8% growth. In Australia, labour market data showed unemployment remained steady despite a stronger-than-expected increase in employment. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported the unemployment rate remained at 4.4% in June, matching expectations. However, employment increased b
Asian Markets
APAC markets in the green; Kospi surges 6%
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher on Wednesday as investors monitored renewed United States strikes on Iran and diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, with the ongoing Middle East conflict continuing to create uncertainty for global energy markets. By 11:55 am AEST (1:55 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was trading 0.2% higher, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 2%, while South Korea's KOSPI 200 surged 6%. Among data releases, South Korea's producer prices were unchanged in June as declines in petroleum prices offset gains in computer and electronics costs, according to central bank data released on Wednesday. The producer price index (PPI), considered a leading indicator for future consumer inflation, remained flat month-on-month in June, slowing from increases of 1% in May and 2.7% in April, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea. On an annual basis, producer prices increased 8.6% in June. Meanwhile, Japan's exports and imports expanded at their fastest pace since November 2022, exceeding market expectations. Japanese exports jumped 19.3% year-on-year in June, supported by strong semiconductor equipment shipments and a weaker yen. The increase surpassed forecasts for an 18.6% rise and accelerated fr