Aug 07 ,2026
Synopsis:
Asia stocks ended mixed Friday in a quiet day's trading. Kospi, Taiex and Nikkei 225 all fell modestly as tech stocks declined again. The broader Topix index was higher, mainland China benchmarks gained and Hong Kong closed a few points ahead. Australia was off its recent highs, India is trading lower. Singapore gained as bank stocks rose again. Southeast Asia is mixed. US futures near unchanged, Europe mixed in the first hour of trading. US dollar flatlining, little movement in Asia's currencies. Treasury and JGB yields higher across tenors. Crude prices notably higher but Brent staying below $84/bl. Precious metals gaining, base metals led higher by copper again.
Asia equities drifted into the week's close with more negative returns at its big chip stocks but with gains in other sectors. For the week, The MSCI Asia Pac ex Japan index is likely to finish flat to slightly lower, weighed by underperformance in South Korea technology stocks and Hong Kong's financials which more than offset gains at Australia's miners and broad gains in mainland China. For Friday, investors unwilling to set new trades ahead of monthly US jobs figures and a gain in crude prices amid a proposed deal between Oman and Iran but one which also excludes the US. Fixed income and currency markets were also quiet.
In regional developments, China exports grew 23.9% in July, above forecasts but below June's figure. Imports grew 27.5%, slightly below forecasts but well below June's 36% surge; analysts attributed the slower export growth partly to inclement weather. Japan household spending declined for a seventh consecutive month despite real wages increasing.
ByteDance (+BYTE.HK) founder has told his staff to avoid distilling rivals' systems to improve the company's own models. DeepSeek (+DEEPSEEK) resumes second round funding after a pause with Monolith Management in its sights. UOB (U11.SP) beat Q2 profit estimates on strong wealth management, OCBC (O39.SP ) raised FY guidance post its quarterly results. SK Hynix (000660.KS) announced it would spend more than $38B on expanding its chip making facilities in South Korea. A BHP (BHP.AU) union called off half of its planned 48-hour strike at Port Hedland.
Digest:
Notable Gainers:
+18.4% 9688.HK (ZAI Lab): reports Q2 EPS ($0.05) vs FactSet ($0.68)
+8.2% 4004.JP (Resonac Holdings): reports Q2 results with headline figures ahead of FactSet estimates; raises FY guidance
+5.3% 7974.JP (Nintendo): reports Q1 revenue and operating profit ahead of FactSet estimates; reiterates FY guidance
+3.8% 2503.JP (Kirin): to acquire Jamieson Wellness for C$45.75/share cash; transaction valued at C$2.5B EV
+3.3% O39.SP (Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp.): reports Q2 NPAT SG$2.22B vs StreetAccount SG$1.97B
+1.8% 2501.JP (Sapporo Holdings): reports H1 results; formulates FY27-30 medium-term management plan; guides FY30 ROE 8.0% or higher
Notable Decliners:
-13.5% 6920.JP (Lasertec): reports Q4 operating income below StreetAccount estimates; FY order guidance seen below pre-earnings expectations
-7.8% 2282.HK (MGM China Holdings): reports H1 adjusted EBITDA HK$4.78B, (2%) vs year-ago HK$4.90B
-7.1% 035420.KS (NAVER): reports operating profit and revenue below StreetAccount estimates
-2.5% 9984.JP (SoftBank Group): reports Q1 results
Data:
Economic:
China
July trade balance $112.5B vs consensus $107.0B and $125.6B in prior month
Exports +23.9% y/y vs consensus +22.2% and +27.0% in prior month
Imports +27.5% y/y vs consensus +27.9% and +36.0% % in prior month
Japan
June household spending (3.3%) y/y vs consensus +0.9% and (0.4%) in prior month
Spending (6.4%) m/m vs +3.7% in prior month
Markets:
Nikkei: (76.55) or (0.12%) to 65606.71
Hang Seng: 137.75 or +0.54% to 25668.03
Shanghai Composite: 39.68 or +1.02% to 3940.04
Shenzhen Composite: 35.56 or +1.40% to 2574.65
ASX200: (8.00) or (0.09%) to 9263.60
KOSPI: (37.61) or (0.60%) to 6258.77
SENSEX: (420.43) or (0.53%) to 78534.33
Currencies:
$-¥: (0.02) or (0.02%) to 158.4280
$-KRW: (5.26) or (0.37%) to 1417.9480
A$-$: +0.00 or +0.04% to 0.7035
$-INR: +0.02 or +0.02% to 95.2503
$-CNY: (0.00) or (0.03%) to 6.7469
This information and data is provided for general informational purposes only. The Bank of New York Mellon and our information suppliers do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of this information or data. We provide no advice nor recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company or securities. We do not undertake any obligation to update or amend this information or data. Nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities.
Please refer to "Terms Of Use".
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS:
NOT FDIC, STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY INSURED
MAY LOSE VALUE
NO BANK, STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY GUARANTEE