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StreetAccount Summary - Asian Market Recap: Nikkei +1.76%, Hang Seng +1.84%, Shanghai Composite +1.22% as of 04:10 ET

Oct 15 ,2025

  • Synopsis:

    • Asia equities posted solid gains Wednesday with regional currencies also noticeably stronger on a weakening US dollar. Strong gains for Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong as technology shares bounced back. Mainland China, Singapore, Australia all posted modest gains, India snapping a recent losing streak in a broad-based rally. Southeast Asia also higher. US futures higher, European equities much stronger at the open. US dollar retreating further from overnight losses, AUD and yen rallying, yuan supported by PBOC daily fixing below 7.10 per dollar, and rupee notably stronger after likely significant intervention from RBI. Treasuries mixed, JGB yields lower at the long end. Crude futures retreating further on fears of a glut. Gold and silver at fresh record highs. Base metals higher.

    • Asia equities saw some strong rallies Wednesday led by technology-orientated benchmarks in South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Hang Seng Tech index rallied 2.5% while mainland China markets were supported by stimulus hopes after Premier Li Qiang reiterated calls for measures to boost consumption after inflation data showed further price declines. Softbank's bounce back led Japan equities higher, while the Kospi was supported by news Seoul is to introduce measures to cap house prices that could pave the way for a BOK rate cut. More broadly, the region's equity markets supported by a strong rally in local currencies after dovish comments from Fed Chair Powell sent Treasury yields lower and the US dollar along with them. Fed Fund Futures now show a 96% chance of a 25 bps cut by the Fed in two weeks with 4% on 50 bps.

    • In regional developments, China's September CPI showed deflation was continuing with strong price decreases in food costs but the overall picture was at least better than economists had expected; producer deflation also persisted unabated. Japan's diet is to meet on 21-Oct to select a new PM with the political uncertainty continuing to weigh on asset prices, particularly long-dated JGBs. Meanwhile final industrial output data for August showed the shrinkage was less than previously feared. BofA Asia fund manager survey showed optimism continued to build across the region with China weightings positive again.

    • Rakuten (4755.JP) is considering listing its credit card business in the US, according to a Reuters report. Sapporo Holdings (2501.JP) is considering selling Yebisu Garden Place and other properties to private equity group KKR-PAG. Guangzhou Auto (2238.HK) is to partner with JD.com (9618.HK) and CATL (3750.HK) to launch a new model next month. Renesas Electronics Corp (6723.JP) is considering the sale of its timing business with Texas Instruments and Infineon possible suitors. Hyundai Motor India (544274.IN) is to invest $5B to include 26 product launches by FY30 including entries into the MPV and off-road SUV segments.

  • Digest:

    • More US-China trade headline volatility:

      • Latest attention on US President Trump's Truth Social post that he is considering a halt to trade with China related to cooking oil products, arguing that Beijing is intentionally refusing to buy US soybeans. Latest rhetoric adds to recent volatility after Trump threatened to double China tariffs in response to expanded rare earth restrictions and later offered reassurance not to worry about China and that "it will all be fine." USTR Greer told CNBC a new 100% tariff could still be implemented depending on Beijing's next move. Yet, the other focus is that US officials indicated Trump is still set to meet Xi at the South Korea APEC summit. Greer reaffirmed this while suggesting plans are subject to change depending on how the situation develops. Treasury Secretary Bessent also mentioned this in a Fox Business appearance Monday, though majority of rhetoric has been hawkish against China, including in a subsequent FT interview where he argued China was trying to pull down the global economy. Article also featured accounts of heated exchanges between Bessent and China trade negotiator Li Chenggang in August. Most of the attention remains on China's rare earth restrictions, where preparations for such a measure suspected to have been planned well in advance, though frictions were exacerbated further by China's move yesterday to sanction five US-linked subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean (042660.KS).

    • China CPI, PPI remain negative in September as deflationary pressure persists:

      • Headline CPI fell 0.3% y/y in September, below expectations of 0.2% decline and narrowed from 0.4% decline in August. NBS attributed to headline weakness mainly to unfavorable base effect. Food prices remained the key drag, dropping 4.4% in broad range including falls in pork, fresh vegetables, eggs and fruits. Mutton prices rose slightly, ending declines in 44 months. Fuel was the other notable decliner. Core inflation edged up to 1.0% to 19-month high from 0.9%. Industrial consumer goods widened gains for fifth consecutive month. Gold and platinum jewelry prices surged. Hotel and airfare declined due to end of school holiday. PPI declines narrowed to 2.3%, a seven-month low and matching consensus, from 2.9% drop in prior month. Still factory-gate prices dropped for 36th straight month. Apart from low base effect, NBS said moderating weakness reflects continued efforts to develop unified national market, curb disorderly market competition (highlighting coal processing, ferrous metal smelting etc.). Also highlighted industrial upgrades and consumption-related boost in discretionary goods & services. Meanwhile Bloomberg noted China's GDP deflator has been in decline for over two years, longest since data began in 1992.

    • South Korea government moves to cap Seoul house prices, hints at tax rises:

      • South Korea's government to introduce measures aimed at capping house price rises which are stalling efforts by Bank of Korea to ease monetary policy. Government to tighten loan limits in Greater Seoul by designating all 25 city districts, additional 12 towns in surrounding Gyeonggi province as 'speculative' zones. Will accelerate rollout of higher risk weights on banks' home loans, cut loan-to-value ratios on property mortgages (Yonhap). Ministry of land said recent house price rises supported by rate-cut expectations, persistent supply-demand imbalances. BoK paused on easing policy further in two most recent meetings following four cuts since Oct-24, cited rising household debt, property prices for hold decision at last meeting. Bloomberg quoted Korea Real Estate Board data showing house prices rose for 35th consecutive week in final week of September leading more economists to forecast no change by BoK at next week's meeting. Finance ministry added moves to cap house prices may also include tax revisions in near future.

    • BofA Asia FMS sentiment continues to improve:

      • BofA Asia FMS showed further improvement in investor sentiment, most notably in breadth. Asia growth expectations extended gains alongside the global outlook while inflation forecasts remained low. China growth outlook emerged into moderate net positive territory for the first time since early this year, though amid some rebound in hopes for policy responses to deflation and slower growth momentum. Strong majority anticipate positive returns throughout the region in the next 12 months with ex-Japan projections running at the highest since Feb-23. Tone on China positioning skewed bullish with those looking at cutbacks largely diminished. Substantial reduction in perceptions about Chinese households' savings accumulation, opening up potential for deployment into risk assets and/or discretionary spending. Japan stance remains bullish, though political uncertainty emerging as a theme, taking some attention away from corporate governance reforms. Modal calls for the next BOJ rate hike evenly split between December and 1Q26. Little change in country/sector allocations overall with main strategies well-established. Japan remains the standout favorite in the region, followed by South Korea, while China rebounded to third place with a net positive weighting (previously negative and third-last), and India fourth (neutral). Semis/tech the top theme regionwide as well as Japan banks, India consumption and infrastructure. Semis cycle 12-month outlook (measured by Korea/Taiwan exports) most optimistic since Jul-24.

    • Japan extraordinary parliament session starts next week:

      • Barrage of political developments continued as parties probe for potential alliances in the wake of the ruling coalition split. Nikkei top story reported plans to convene the extraordinary Diet session on 21-Oct (confirmed). This means a parliamentary vote to appoint a prime minister may be held on the same day if proceedings follow usual custom. Secretary-generals from LDP and DPP met yesterday to discuss a potential new coalition, but DPP said it was "unrealistic" given differences in tax policies, while DPP leader Tamaki not considering the idea. LDP president Takaichi set to hold bilateral meetings with party chiefs from CDP and DPP today. Separately, leaders from CDP, DPP and JIP will also meet. LDP's 196 lower house seats under threat of being outnumbered by 210 combined seats among the three major opposition parties. Unresolved differences between CDP and DPP suggest a tri-party coalition looks unlikely. However, Komeito explicitly acknowledged the possibility they might vote for an opposition candidate, in a turnaround from prior indications. Meanwhile, LDP still struggling for internal solidarit under Takaichi and Nikkei reported an unusual proposal floated to keep Ishiba as prime minister even while Takaichi is the party president. In another layer of complexity, Nikkei also discussed potential significant overlap in single-seat electorates when considering various alliance scenarios, ranging from some 10% for LDP-DPP to almost 50% in the case of LDP-CDP.

    • Notable Gainers:

      • +14.2% 4385.JP (Mercari): to discontinue provision of on-demand work service Mercari Hallo as of 18-Dec

      • +9.8% 2238.HK (Guangzhou Automobile Group): partners with JD and Contemporary Amperex Technology for a new model launch

      • +9.4% 8267.JP (AEON Co.): reports H1 net income attributable ¥4.05B, +9% vs year-ago ¥3.71B

      • +7.7% 3323.HK (China National Building Material): guides 9M net income attributable CNY2.95B vs year-ago (CNY684M)

      • +5.7% 6501.JP (Hitachi): plans to hire an additional 15K people worldwide for its power transmission and distribution equipment busiones by 2027

      • +4.8% 6723.JP (Renesas Electronics): report of exploring sale of its timing business

      • +1.8% 2501.JP (Sapporo Holdings): report of granting preferential negotiation rights to KKR-PAG group for proposed sale of real estate business

      • +0.2% 2317.TT (Hon Hai Precision Industry): to bid for stake in unit of Germany's ZF Group stalls

    • Notable Decliners:

      • -2.0% 3086.JP (J. FRONT RETAILING): reports Q2 net income attributable ¥7.8B, (55.7%) y/y

  • Data:

    • Economic:

      • China September

        • CPI (0.3%) y/y vs consensus (0.2%) and (0.4%) in prior month

          • PPI (2.3%) y/y vs consensus (2.3%) and (2.9%) in prior month

      • Japan August

        • Industrial production m/m (revised) (1.5%) versus (1.2%) in prior month

          • Retail sales y/y (8%) versus (8.1%) in prior month

    • Markets:

      • Nikkei: 825.35 or +1.76% to 47672.67

      • Hang Seng: 469.25 or +1.84% to 25910.60

      • Shanghai Composite: 46.98 or +1.22% to 3912.21

      • Shenzhen Composite: 38.17 or +1.56% to 2478.00

      • ASX200: 91.50 or +1.03% to 8990.90

      • KOSPI: 95.47 or +2.68% to 3657.28

      • SENSEX: 625.55 or +0.76% to 82655.53

    • Currencies:

      • $-¥: (0.59) or (0.39%) to 151.2470

      • $-KRW: (8.35) or (0.58%) to 1420.4200

      • A$-$: +0.00 or +0.48% to 0.6518

      • $-INR: (0.47) or (0.53%) to 88.3065

      • $-CNY: (0.02) or (0.22%) to 7.1235

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