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Asian Markets
APAC starts mixed as China PMI, RBA meeting in focus
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday as investors awaited new data on China’s manufacturing activity and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) began its two-day policy meeting. By 11:40 am AEDT (12:40 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.5%, while Japan’s markets remained closed for a public holiday. South Korea’s Kospi 200 rose 1.4%. Attention in the region was focused on China’s latest purchasing managers index (PMI) from RatingDog, due later today. Economists expect a reading of 50.9 for October, down slightly from September’s 51.2. However, official data from the National Bureau of Statistics earlier showed that China’s manufacturing activity contracted to a six-month low of 49.0, suggesting renewed pressure on the world’s second-largest economy. The RBA began its monetary policy meeting today, with markets expecting policymakers to keep rates on hold following hotter-than-expected third-quarter inflation data. Economic data released this morning by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed household spending rose 0.2% in September, slightly below expectations of a 0.3% increase. Meanwhile, building approvals surged 12% to 17,019 dwellings, far exceeding forecasts of a 5.5% rise. Market
Asian Markets
APAC rallies; Nikkei 225 hits record on Trump-Xi truce
Asia-Pacific markets advanced on Friday as investors welcomed signs of easing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing following a high-level meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. The leaders agreed to a one-year truce on trade disputes, including the contentious issue of rare earth exports, helping to calm fears of a potential escalation into a full-blown trade war. By 11:50 am AEDT (12:50 am GMT), Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2% to hit a fresh record high, while South Korea’s Kospi 200 climbed 0.4%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4%. Economic data out of South Korea came in far stronger than expected, with industrial production soaring 11.6% year-on-year, well above forecasts of 5.9% and up sharply from the prior 0.9% growth. Retail sales were flat, easing 0.1% month-on-month after a 2.4% decline previously. Japan also posted a series of positive data releases. Tokyo’s core CPI rose 2.8% year-on-year, beating expectations of 2.6% and accelerating from 2.5% in the previous month. Preliminary industrial production jumped 2.2% month-on-month, ahead of the 1.5% forecast, rebounding from a 1.5% fall last period. Meanwhile, retail sales in Japan edged up 0.5% yea
Asian Markets
APAC mixed; Kospi at record amid South Korea trade deal
Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Thursday, as investors reacted to comments from United States Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who suggested that a further rate cut in December was far from a “foregone conclusion”. The cautious stance from the Fed tempered optimism following recent market rallies, adding uncertainty to global risk sentiment. Meanwhile, in Seoul, chief policy adviser Kim Yong-beom reportedly outlined details of a new trade deal with Washington. While U.S. officials have yet to confirm the specifics, Kim told The Korea Herald the agreement involves a US$350 billion investment pledge, consisting of $200 billion in cash instalments and $150 billion allocated to shipbuilding industry cooperation, with an annual cap of $20 billion. “As the investments will be made in line with business progress within an annual limit of $20 billion, they will remain within a range the Korean foreign exchange market can absorb, thereby minimising any impact on the market,” Kim said. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at 1 pm AEDT (2 am GMT), with investors eyeing further details on trade and currency coordination between the two largest economies. By 11:50 a.m. AEDT (12:50 a.m. G
Asian Markets
APAC trades mixed; traders eye Fed cut, Aussie inflation
Markets across the Asia-Pacific region traded mixed on Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, widely expected to deliver a second consecutive 25 basis point cut, while digesting higher-than-expected inflation data out of Australia. By 12:10 pm AEDT (1:10 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.7%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 1.4% to a fresh record high, while South Korea’s Kospi 200 also touched record valuations, up 0.7%. In economic data, Australia’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.2% in September, up from 2.1% in August and ahead of market expectations of 3%, according to fresh data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). “This is the highest annual inflation rate since the June 2024 quarter, when annual inflation was 3.8%,” said Michelle Marquardt, Head of Prices Statistics at the ABS. The stronger reading added uncertainty to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy outlook, as markets weighed whether persistent price pressures could delay further monetary easing. On Wall Street overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.3%, the S&P 500 added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.8%, as all benchmarks closed at new record highs. In commodities, Brent cr
Asian Markets
APAC eases from records ahead of Trump-Takaichi talks
Asia-Pacific markets pulled back on Tuesday as investors turned cautious ahead of a high-profile meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The meeting is expected to focus on economic and security cooperation as Washington and Tokyo navigate a shifting global trade landscape. By 11:40 am AEDT (12:40 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.4%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4%, and South Korea’s Kospi 200 declined 1%. South Korea’s economy offered a bright spot, expanding at its fastest pace in over a year. According to advance estimates from the Bank of Korea, third-quarter gross domestic product rose 1.7% year on year, outpacing the 1.5% increase expected. The country’s economy grew 0.6% in the previous quarter. In the U.S., Wall Street extended record highs on Monday as optimism around a potential China trade deal and upcoming corporate earnings lifted sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.9%. In commodities, Brent crude slipped 1.4% to settle at US$64.75 per barrel, while spot gold dropped 3.2% to US$3,981.99 per ounce amid a broader risk-on mood. Mai

Asian Markets
APAC markets rally as Nikkei, Kospi hit record highs
Asia-Pacific markets rallied on Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi 200 both surging to record highs as optimism surrounding United States-China trade negotiations lifted investor sentiment across the region. U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators reportedly reached a preliminary framework on several key disputes, which investors hope could pave the way for a formal agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. By 11:40 am AEDT (12:40 am GMT), Japans' Nikkei 225 added 2.2% to a fresh record, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.7%, and the Kospi 200 index was up 2.3%, also reaching a fresh record. On Wall Street, major benchmarks notched fresh all-time highs on Friday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1%, the S&P 500 rose 0.8%, and the Nasdaq gained 1.2%. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CBS News that President Trump’s previously proposed 100% tariffs on Chinese imports were now “effectively off the table”. He added that China was expected to make substantial purchases of U.S. soybeans and delay restrictions on rare earth exports, though the U.S. would maintain its current export controls. In commodities, Brent crude slipped 0.4% to settle at US$65.69
Asian Markets
APAC trades mixed ahead of Trump-Xi meeting next week
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday after the White House confirmed that United States President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping will hold talks next week, boosting investor optimism over potential progress on trade and regional cooperation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will depart for Malaysia late Friday before travelling to Japan and South Korea, meeting Xi next Thursday following his address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit. By 11:40 am AEDT (12:40 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.1%, Japan's Nikkei 225 added 1.2%, and South Korea's Kospi 200 lifted 1.6% to trade at a fresh record high. Among key data releases, Japan’s core inflation rate accelerated to 2.9% in September, marking the first rise since May and matching market expectations. Headline inflation also climbed to 2.9%, surpassing the Bank of Japan’s 2% target, while the “core-core” inflation measure, which strips out both fresh food and energy, eased to 3% from 3.3% in August. Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) figures from Japan and Australia also offered mixed signals. Japan’s manufacturing PMI fell to 48.3, below forecasts of 48.6 and lower than the previous month’
Asian Markets
APAC markets extend decline; trade tensions hit sentiment
Asian-Pacific markets declined on Thursday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street as trade fears resurfaced following reports that Washington is weighing new export restrictions to China. Reuters reported that the Trump administration is considering curbs on exports to China made with U.S. software, citing a U.S. official and several individuals briefed on the discussions. The proposed plan could extend to a wide range of items - from laptops to jet engines - though sources indicated that it may not move forward and remains one of several policy options under review. by 11:45 am AEDT (12:45 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.3%, Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 1.5%, and South Korea’s Kospi 200 dropped 0.7%. Shares of SoftBank tumbled around 2.5% after the Japanese conglomerate announced plans to issue U.S.-dollar and euro-denominated bonds to fund its growing investments in artificial intelligence. According to a Tokyo Stock Exchange filing, SoftBank will issue around US$2 billion in dollar-denominated bonds across two tranches and about €750 million (US$870 million) in hybrid notes, carrying interest rates between 6.5% and 8.25%. Among data releases, the Bank of Korea kept its benchmark interest rate unchang
Asian Markets
APAC eases from records; Japan’s new PM takes office
Asian markets retreated on Wednesday as investors weighed the policy outlook of Japan’s new government and digested trade data showing weaker-than-expected export growth. Japan's first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her cabinet were sworn in on Tuesday, also ushering in Japan’s first female finance minister, Satsuki Katayama, and appointing former leadership rival Shinjiro Koizumi as defence minister. By 12:10 pm AEDT (1:10 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.8%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.2%, and South Korea’s Kospi 200 slipped 0.3%. All three benchmarks had closed at record highs in the previous session. Japan’s September trade report showed exports climbing 4.2% year on year, snapping a four-month losing streak amid strong shipments to Asia. However, the figure missed market forecasts of a 4.6% rise. Imports increased 3.3%, well above the 0.6% expected, reversing a 5.2% contraction in the previous month. In South Korea, producer prices rose in September, driven by higher costs for agricultural and livestock products and the expiry of temporary government subsidies on mobile and electricity bills. The producer price index (PPI) rose 0.4% month-on-month to 120.54, according to preliminary dat