Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Wednesday as investors weighed economic data from Japan and South Korea against the prospect of a United States government shutdown, with Wall Street’s overnight rally offering some support.
By 11:25 am AEST (1:25 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.1%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9%, while South Korea’s Kospi 200 advanced 0.7%.
Japan’s Tankan survey of large manufacturers showed business sentiment rising to +14 in September, up from +13 in June and marking its strongest level since December 2024. The reading narrowly missed forecasts of +15.
South Korea’s trade balance swung to a surplus of US$9.56 billion in September, the largest since September 2018 and well above August’s $6.51 billion.
Exports climbed 12.7% from a year earlier to $65.95 billion, exceeding expectations for a 7.2% rise.
Imports rose 8.2% to $56.40 billion, the sharpest increase in more than a year after a 4.1% decline in August, and beating expectations of a 5.6% increase.
On Wall Street, U.S. stocks finished higher on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.2% to another record close, the S&P 500 gaining 0.4% and the Nasdaq rising 0.3%.
In commodities, Brent crude slipped 1.6% to US$66.03 a barrel, while gold extended its record run, climbing 0.6% to US$3,858.45 per ounce.
Chinese equities also gained on Tuesday, with the Shanghai Composite up 0.5% at 3,882.8 and the CSI 300 advancing 0.5% to 4,640.7.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.9% to 26,855.6. India’s BSE Sensex edged down 0.1% to 80,267.6, marking fresh multi-week lows.
In Europe, markets closed higher on Tuesday, with London’s FTSE 100 up 0.5% to a record 9,350.4. Germany’s DAX rose 0.6% to 23,880.7, while France’s CAC 40 gained 0.2% to 7,895.9.
