Aug 26 ,2026
Synopsis:
Asia stocks ended mostly higher Wednesday. South Korea, Taiwan and Nikkei's 225 led the outperformers with solid gains for the Topix, Hang Seng and Shanghai composite. Singapore and Australia saw small losses, Southeast Asia and India quiet and trading near unchanged. US futures a little lower, Europe eying a flat open for now. US dollar flat, AUD stronger after stronger-than-expected CPI, yen a little stronger. Treasury yields mostly higher, JGBs mixed. Precious metals steady, base metals mixed. Crude futures lower with Brent trading below $86/bl. Cryptocurrencies mostly higher.
Asia stocks traded higher Wednesday as oil prices continued to decline - and drag regional bond yields down along with them - on optimism over a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it had restarted talks with Oman to manage ship transits through Hormuz just as US sanctions against it, and countries that trade with Tehran, are set to ramp up. Technology stocks also edged higher following a positive close on the Nasdaq overnight and ahead of Nvidia results and the PCE inflation index which are both due later Wednesday. An exception to the positive momentum today was Australia's ASX which declined post a hot inflation print that hinted at the potential for another RBA rate hike sooner rather than later.
Trade issues back in the spot light too as Bloomberg reported Washington was considering a second level of tariffs on Canada after Ottawa vowed retaliatory measures on US duties. China also said it would retaliate against the US if it followed through with tariffs over its links to Iran although a second Bloomberg article questioned their effectiveness, noting Washington had not threatened China's banks with any kind of sanction. In other developments today, Japan July service inflation rose to its highest level in three months, supporting other signals the BOJ would hike interest rates next month. Meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand kept its base policy rate unchanged to support growth, as widely expected.
SoftBank (9984.JP) is mulling a $10-20B bond offering to help refinance a loan for its investment in OpenAI, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) CEO has unveiled more than 100 model launches and refreshes to challenge Toyota Motor (8035.JP) in the US, and China-based rivals elsewhere. SK Innovation (096770.KS) is to merge with its loss-making subsidiary SK ie technology (361610.KS) that will lead to a 2.6% share dilution and absorption of the company's losses. Reuters reported Air India (05W46N-E) is looking for $1.5B in equity from owners Tata Sons (+TATASONS.IN) and Singapore Airlines (C6L.SP).
Digest:
Notable Gainers:
+9.9% 358.HK (Jiangxi Copper): reports H1 net income attributable CNY8.63B vs guidance CNY7.55-8.50B and year-ago CNY4.17B
+9.7% 1801.HK (Innovent Biologics): reports H1 adjusted net income CNY1.70B, +40% vs year-ago CNY1.21B
+9.5% 2020.HK (ANTA Sports Products): reports H1 results
+8.5% 326030.KS (SK Biopharmaceuticals Co.): reports conditional licensing-in agreement with Biohaven regarding epilepsy drug candidate Opakalim (BHV-7000) for up to KRW1.100T ($795M)
+7.4% 6862.HK (Haidilao International Holding): reports H1 adjusted EBIT CNY2.51B vs FactSet CNY2.36B
+4.0% 6181.HK (Laopu Gold): reports H1 non-IFRS adjusted net income CNY4.32B vs guidance CNY4.31-4.36B and FactSet CNY4.31B
+3.4% WOW.AU (Woolworths Group): reports FY NPAT A$1.60B ex-items vs FactSet A$1.54B
+3.0% 8766.JP (Tokio Marine Holdings): to conduct 15-for-one stock split; revises year-end dividend forecast and amends buyback
+2.1% 9988.HK (Alibaba Group): chairman Joseph Tsai discloses purchase of 720K ordinary shares
Notable Decliners:
-11.0% 096770.KS (SK Innovation): to merge with subsidiary SK ie technology, effective 1-Jan
-10.8% WOR.AU (Worley): reports FY results; FY27 guidance disappoints
-7.8% 2313.HK (Shenzhou International Group Holdings): reports H1 net income attributable CNY1.91B vs guidance CNY1.81-1.97B
-3.9% LYC.AU (Lynas Rare Earths): reports FY NPAT A$222.4M vs FactSet A$234.4M
-3.1% 005380.KS (Hyundai Motor): investor day; updates mid-to long-term financial targets
-2.5% 2883.HK (China Oilfield Services): reports H1 results; China energy sector move
Data:
Economic:
Japan July
Services PPI +3.6% y/y vs consensus +3.2% and revised +3.4% in prior month
Australia
July CPI +3.5 y/y vs consensus +3.3% and +3.8% in June
CPI +1.0% m/m vs consensus +0.9% and (0.1%) in June
Trimmed mean CPI +0.5% m/m vs consensus +0.4% and +0.3% in June
Trimmed mean CPI +3.6% y/y vs consensus +3.5% and +3.6% in June
Q2 construction work done (2.1%) q/q vs consensus +0.5% and +3.4% in Q1
Singapore July
Manufacturing production y/y +6.8% versus +7.5% in prior month
Markets:
Nikkei: 405.73 or +0.62% to 66262.16
Hang Seng: 141.87 or +0.56% to 25652.97
Shanghai Composite: 23.08 or +0.59% to 3912.52
Shenzhen Composite: 12.46 or +0.50% to 2517.87
ASX200: (36.80) or (0.40%) to 9127.80
KOSPI: 65.47 or +0.97% to 6808.21
SENSEX: (68.67) or (0.09%) to 77587.42
Currencies:
$-¥: (0.25) or (0.16%) to 158.9640
$-KRW: +1.45 or +0.10% to 1384.0920
A$-$: +0.00 or +0.28% to 0.7183
$-INR: +0.05 or +0.05% to 95.1595
$-CNY: (0.00) or (0.01%) to 6.7198
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