### Summary
Asian stocks were mixed as traders awaited the Federal Reserve's summer conference to determine if more interest rate hikes are necessary to deal with inflation.
### Facts
- 📉 Shanghai and Hong Kong stocks retreated, while Tokyo and Seoul stocks advanced.
- 📉 The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 1.1%.
- 📈 The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo advanced 0.6%.
- 📈 The Kospi in Seoul gained 0.6%.
- 📊 The S&P 500 index ended the week lower by 0.1%.
- 💵 Some investors are shifting money to bonds as higher interest rates make their payout bigger and less risky.
- 💹 Tech and other high-growth stocks are some of the biggest losers due to higher rates.
- 📉 Ross Stores jumped 5% after reporting stronger-than-expected results, while Estee Lauder fell 3.3% despite reporting stronger profit and revenue than expected.
- ⛽ Benchmark U.S. crude gained 73 cents to $81.39 per barrel, while Brent crude reached $85.55 per barrel.
- 💲 The dollar slightly edged up to 145.35 yen, while the euro rose to $1.0882.
(Source: AP News)
Asia-Pacific markets fell on Friday as Japan's core inflation rate dropped to 3.1% and Chinese real estate giant Evergrande filed for bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court.
US and UK retail sales, eurozone and Japanese GDP, and eurozone, UK, and Japanese inflation data are highlighted in Fisher Investments' recap of the biggest market, political, and economic news from last week.
Asian stocks rise as traders await signals on interest rate plans from the Federal Reserve conference, with hopes that further rate hikes will be ruled out but concerns about inflation persisting.
Summary: U.S. markets end mixed with Nasdaq up over 1% due to the surge in technology stocks, Asian markets show positive gains with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 1.05%, and European markets are higher as the tech sector gains ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole gathering, while crude oil prices decrease slightly.
Asian markets are expected to follow the global trend of weakness in stocks, a buoyant dollar, elevated bond yields, and souring investor sentiment, with no major catalysts to change the current market condition.
Oil prices in Asia rose slightly as traders considered weak demand indicators from China and the possibility of further U.S. rate hikes, while also factoring in potential supply constraints.
Asia-Pacific markets rise ahead of central bank rate decisions from South Korea and Indonesia, while South Korea's producer price index grows at a slower pace for the 13th consecutive month.
Consumer inflation in Tokyo grew at a slower pace than expected in August, but the core figure, which excludes fresh food and energy costs, remained at its highest level in over 40 years, indicating that inflationary conditions in Japan remain high and putting pressure on the Bank of Japan to eventually tighten policy.
Asian markets will be influenced by economic indicators, policy steps, and diplomatic signals from China, as well as reacting to the Jackson Hole speeches, purchasing managers index reports, GDP data, and inflation figures throughout the week, with investors desperate for signs of economic improvement as China's industrial profits continue to slump and authorities take measures to stimulate the capital market.
Asia-Pacific markets started the final trading week of August higher after U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said that inflation remains "too high" and that the central bank is "prepared to raise rates further if appropriate."
Asia-Pacific markets are expected to rise, following Wall Street's positive performance, with Japan's Nikkei 225 leading gains, and airline stocks outperforming.
Asia-Pacific markets set to rise following tech rally on Wall Street, Australian inflation numbers anticipated, and the U.S. dollar reaches its highest level against the yen in 2023.
Asian stock markets mostly lower as Japanese factory activity and Chinese service industry growth weaken, while Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 rises on hopes that economic data will convince the Federal Reserve that inflation is under control.
Tokyo stocks rise as a cheaper yen supports the market, despite falls on Wall Street and concerns about another US Federal Reserve interest rate hike.
Asia stock markets are softer ahead of U.S inflation data, with investors looking for signals about the Federal Reserve's next moves on interest rates.
Stock prices in Asia were mostly higher as investors awaited updates on U.S. inflation and China's economic data, while concerns about rising oil prices and possible higher interest rates weighed on markets.
Global markets ended higher as energy stocks climbed supported by Saudi Arabia and Russia's decision to extend supply cuts, while Wall Street's key indexes saw weekly declines due to investor concerns over interest rates and anticipation of upcoming U.S. inflation data. In Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 ended down, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up, and Chinese shares rose following improved data on consumer price inflation. The Eurozone's economic growth outlook has been downgraded by the European Commission, and crude oil prices fell.
Asia-Pacific markets rise despite higher-than-expected inflation in the US, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 increases as August unemployment numbers match forecasts.
Chinese economic data showing strength in consumer spending and manufacturing activity boosted Asian markets, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rising 0.8% and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 surging 1.1%, despite concerns about a slowdown in China's economy.
Asia-Pacific markets are expected to continue declining as investors wait for China's loan prime rates and the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision, while oil prices rise due to supply concerns and all 11 sectors in the S&P 500 trade down.
Asia-Pacific markets fell as the Bank of Japan kept rates unchanged and noted a "moderate recovery" in the economy, while Japan's private sector activity expanded at its slowest pace since February and the country's August inflation rate remained above the BOJ's target for the 17th straight month.
Asian markets begin the last week of the quarter battered by the surge in U.S. bond yields, with investors hoping for a rebound and closely watching the U.S. bond market.
Asia-Pacific markets are mixed as investors await inflation data from Singapore, Australia, and Japan, with Japan's inflation data for the Tokyo region seen as a leading indicator of nationwide trends.
Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of China's industrial data and Australia's inflation figures, while the US experienced a sell-off after disappointing economic data, causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to fall below its 200-day moving average for the first time since May. Additionally, oil prices continue to rise, putting crude on track for its best quarter in over a year, and Tesla shares dropped after reports of an EU investigation into whether the company and other European carmakers are receiving unfair subsidies for exporting from China.
Asian currencies, including the Malaysian ringgit, rose in holiday-thinned trading despite a challenging week for regional currencies due to hawkish U.S. Fed rhetoric and surging oil prices, while the U.S. dollar index remained largely flat and Asian stocks mostly traded higher.
Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell due to an increase in Treasury yields and oil prices, leading to a decline in investor sentiment on Wall Street, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index sliding 1.41% after shares of Evergrande were suspended.
Asian markets may receive a boost after the US Congress reached a last-minute deal to prevent a partial federal government shutdown, although Chinese data indicating mixed levels of services and manufacturing activity could hinder the positive sentiment.
Asia-Pacific markets rise as U.S. Treasury yields ease from 16-year highs following weak jobs data, with Japan, South Korea, and Australia all trading higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index looks set for a rebound after losses on Wednesday; Carter Worth, CEO of Worth Charting, predicts lower interest rates and stocks by the end of 2023, contrary to consensus forecasts, while Vanguard's Aliaga-Diaz believes there is a limit to how high yields will go due to rate uncertainty; oil prices fall sharply, hitting their lowest level since September 5.
Asian shares rise as oil prices decline, easing inflationary pressures and boosting market sentiment, with benchmarks in Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, and Hong Kong all advancing.
Asia-Pacific markets are expected to have a positive start to the week, with Chinese markets returning from a week-long holiday and investors watching inflation readings and trade data from China and India, as well as a monetary policy decision from Singapore's central bank. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 is up after a five-day losing streak, while futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index point to a stronger open. However, the outbreak of war between Israel and Palestine has affected stock futures and led to higher oil prices. There is also an increased likelihood of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates by the end of the year, causing utilities stocks to sink as investors find short-term Treasuries more attractive.
Asian markets are expected to open higher following a rebound in risk sentiment driven by comments from Fed officials suggesting a possible pause in rate hikes, resulting in gold and oil prices rising, the dollar weakening, and Wall Street recovering from losses.
Asian shares rise as bond yields ease and oil prices dip, although markets are cautious due to violence in the Middle East, with European and US markets also looking set to open higher.
Asian markets are expected to start positively due to a slump in U.S. bond yields and comments from Federal Reserve officials signaling the end of interest rate hikes, despite concerns in China's property sector and other economic indicators.
Asian shares rise as markets bet that U.S. rates have peaked after more dovish remarks from Federal Reserve officials, while traders await the U.S. consumer inflation report for further monetary policy clues.
Asian shares slide on stronger-than-expected U.S. consumer prices, increasing the likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping rates higher for longer.
Asian markets fall as inflation data raises expectations of Federal Reserve rate hikes; Australian, South Korean, and Japanese shares slip, and the Golden Dragon index of Chinese companies listed in the U.S. records its biggest drop in a month.
Asia-Pacific markets are expected to rise as investors await the release of minutes from Australia's central bank and assess New Zealand's inflation data, while in the US, all three major indexes experienced gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average having its best day since September.
Asian markets are expected to open higher as investors focus on U.S. economic and corporate factors, despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Japan's overall consumer prices rose 3% in September, slightly lower than the previous month but still above the Bank of Japan's target, while consumer inflation excluding food and energy increased by 4.2%.
The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its consumer price index outlook for fiscal 2024 to the 2% growth range, indicating three consecutive years of inflation above the target.
