Aug 18 ,2026
Synopsis:
Asia equities ended largely lower Tuesday. Nikkei and Topix both closed sharply down, Taiwan also notably weaker, South Korea's bright start faded badly by the close and turned to a loss. Mainland China mixed, Hong Kong pared morning losses to end almost unchanged. Australia's ASX gained at first as BHP rose but was flat by the close. India and Singapore down. US futures lower, Europe lower in the first hour. US dollar flat, weakness in NZD and AUD, yen back within reach of 160 per dollar. Oil futures higher with Brent trading above $91/bl, WTI above $85/bl. Copper off yesterday's highs, iron ore stable. Precious metals lower.
Asia markets fell Tuesday with especially sharp declines in technology-leaning boards. South Korea's Kospi opened higher as it marked-to-market to Asia's tech gains on Monday but ended around 1.5% lower. The Hang Seng rallied on the Kospi's demise as the sometime reverse correlation returned. Some mixed fortunes for induvial stock names as Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) fell but SK Hynix (000660.KS) gained a little, while in Japan there were very steep declines at Advantest (6857.JP) and Kioxia (285A.JP).
More broadly, investors growing increasingly concerned over the sharp increase in bond yields globally as the 30Y Treasury yield touched an almost 20-year high, and the JGB 10Y a three-decade peak. Analysts blaming a combination of factors for the surge: high corporate and government issuance, Fed Chair Warsh's lack of forward guidance, inflation concerns, the lack of progress in ending the Iran conflict and, appearing on the horizon, the US mid-term elections with a highly uncertain outcome at present. Also Tuesday, crude oil prices also gained amid few signs of a diplomatic breakthrough to end the Iran conflict and after President Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it interfered with US-Iran talks. The developments come just as oil market analysts warned again over diminishing physical supplies.
BHP (BHP.AU) posted a profit rise of around 30% on buoyant copper prices and increased iron ore output. Reliance Worldwide (RWC.AU) received an offer from Brookfield Asset Management at a 32% premium to Monday's close (Bloomberg). NSE (+NSE.IN) is seeking a valuation of around $55B in its IPO in what would be India's largest ever IPO, and value the exchange at around the sixth largest globally, according to Bloomberg.
Digest:
Notable Gainers:
+11.1% 1179.HK (H World Group): reports Q2 adjusted EBITDA CNY2.73B vs FactSet CNY2.48B
+7.3% 600583.CH (Offshore Oil Engineering): reports H1 results; revenue CNY12.38B, +9% vs year-ago CNY11.32B
+7.1% 067310.KS (HANA MICRON): reports Q2 results; operating profit and revenue ahead of FactSet estimates
+5.6% 403870.KS (HPSP Co.): reports Q2 results; operating profit and revenue ahead of FactSet estimates
+5.0% 003230.KS (SAMYANG FOODS): reports Q2 results; revenue ahead of FactSet estimates
Notable Decliners:
-10.4% 319400.KS (HYUNDAI MOVEX Co.): reports Q2 results; operating profit KRW3.20B, (28%) vs year-ago KRW4.45B
-8.1% 001040.KS (CJ Corp): reports Q2 results; operating profit misses FactSet estimates
-5.7% 688521.CH (Verisilicon Microelectronics (Shanghai)): reports H1 net income attributable (CNY612.1M) vs year-ago (CNY319.8M)
-1.5% 921.HK (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co.): reports H1 net income attributable CNY1.66B, (20%) vs year-ago CNY2.08B
Data:
Economic:
Australia August
Westpac-MI consumer sentiment index 88.9 vs 83.9 in July
Markets:
Nikkei: (1,759.52) or (2.54%) to 67460.73
Hang Seng: 17.92 or +0.07% to 25471.15
Shanghai Composite: 7.65 or +0.19% to 3990.30
Shenzhen Composite: (11.94) or (0.45%) to 2635.34
ASX200: (3.20) or (0.04%) to 9070.00
KOSPI: (108.11) or (1.55%) to 6869.83
SENSEX: (337.30) or (0.43%) to 77390.86
Currencies:
$-¥: +0.26 or +0.16% to 159.7160
$-KRW: (6.40) or (0.45%) to 1410.4400
A$-$: (0.00) or (0.15%) to 0.7099
$-INR: (0.05) or (0.05%) to 95.6703
$-CNY: +0.00 or +0.01% to 6.7414
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