Asia-Pacific Markets Mostly Close Higher
On Thursday, the majority of Asia-Pacific markets concluded the trading day with gains.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index remained stable at 24,498.95, while the CSI 300 index in mainland China rose by 0.68% to reach 4,034.49.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 increased by 0.6%, closing at 39,901.19, and the broader Topix index saw a rise of 0.72%, finishing at 2,839.81.
South Korean Index Performance
In South Korea, the Kospi index climbed 0.19% to close at 3,192.29, while the smaller-cap Kosdaq gained 0.74%, ending the day at 818.27.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index finished 0.9% higher at 8,639.
Indian Stocks Open Flat
In India, both the Nifty 50 and Sensex indices were flat in early Thursday trade. As of 10 a.m. IST, the Nifty 50 index was down by 0.12%, and the Sensex had dropped by 0.25%.
SK Hynix Shares Decline
Shares of SK Hynix fell by as much as 8.78% on Thursday due to profit-taking concerns amid a dimmer outlook for memory semiconductor prices.
Goldman Sachs downgraded SK Hynix, indicating that operating profits for 2026 are projected to be lower compared to this year.
Australia’s Unemployment Rate Rises
Australia’s unemployment rate increased to 4.3% in June, higher than the anticipated rise to 4.1%. This marks the steepest rate since November 2021.
Net employment grew by 2,000 in June, a modest recovery from a previously revised decline.
Singapore Experiencing Export Growth
In Singapore, non-oil domestic exports surged by 13% in June year-over-year, exceeding the 5% growth forecast. This is the sharpest increase since July 2024.
The rise in exports is attributed to higher shipments of electronic goods and specialized machinery.
Mixed Opening for Asia-Pacific Markets
Asia-Pacific markets opened with mixed results, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down 0.6% and South Korea’s Kospi dropping by 0.26%.
Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index was up by 0.35%, indicating a diverse set of performances across the region.
