Mount Fuji and the Shinjuku skyline in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Wednesday as investors assessed Japan’s trade data and the country’s new leadership.
Japanese exports snapped a four-month decline in September and rose 4.2% year on year as exports to Asia saw strong growth, partially offsetting a decline in exports to the US.
However, exports missed analysts’ expectations of 4.6% growth, according to the average estimate in a Reuters poll of economists.
Prime Minister Sanae Takachi and his new Cabinet were sworn in on Tuesday, with Shinjiro Koizumi, his former rival in the race to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, being named defense minister and Satsuki Katayama becoming Japan’s first female finance minister.
from japan Nikkei 225 The day ended just below the flatline at 49,307.79, while the Topix index rose 0.52% to 3,266.43, a new closing record.
shares of softbank It fell more than 10% before paring losses to about 5%. Shares had gained 8.5% on Monday.
South Korea’s markets fell sharply Kospi The gain of 1.56% set a new closing record of 3,883.68 and recorded the sixth consecutive winning session. The small-cap Kosdaq rose 0.76% to 879.15.
LG Chem shares rose 13% after Palliser Capital urged the chemical company to reform its board and buy back shares, Reuters reported.
from hong kong Hang Seng Index It slipped 0.94% to 25,781.77. Labubu Doll Maker’s Shares pop martwhich on Tuesday reported a 250% increase in revenue for the third quarter, was up 2.4%.
Mainland China’s CSI 300 was 0.33% lower, ending at 4,592.57.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.71% to 9,030.
Indian markets are closed due to holidays.
Overnight in the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new closing record, boosted by strong earnings reports from companies like Coca-Cola and 3M, while the S&P 500 was relatively unchanged.
The 30-stock index closed 0.47% higher at 46,924.74, and briefly rose above 47,000 during the session.
The broader market closed at 6,735.35, with the S&P 500 flatline, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.16% to 22,953.67.
—CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Piya Singh contributed to this report.
