SerpApi.Org
Asian stock markets traded on mixed note on Wednesday following an overnight gains on Wall Street, where semiconductor stocks rallied on renewed artificial intelligence demand. Investors largely looked past rising oil prices despite ongoing U.S. military strikes in the Middle East and new U.S. tariff proposals on imported generic drugs.
Concurrently, U.S. equity index futures drifted lower as traders digested the macro environment and prepared for high-profile corporate earnings reports from Alphabet, Tesla, GE Vernova, Philip Morris, and Texas Instruments, with Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.77%, while S&P 500 and Dow Jones futures slipped 0.28% and 0.21%, respectively.
In commodities, crude oil prices advanced, with WTI topping $86 per barrel and Brent climbing above $93 per barrel. Spot gold traded higher, surging past $4,100 per ounce.
The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.74% to close at 6,798, extending gains from the previous session on semiconductor strength.
Japan's (NKY:IND) fell 0.37% to 67,000, while the broader Topix Index gained 1% to 4,055. Simultaneously, the Japanese yen weakened beyond 163 per dollar, sinking to its lowest level since October 1986, heightening intervention watch. Japan’s trade balance swung to a deficit of JPY 406.9 billion in June 2026, driven by a sharp surge in imports.
China's (SHCOMP) rose 0.07% at 3,867, while the Shenzhen Component fell 1.42% to 14,061.4, as concerns over China's growth outlook weighed on market sentiment.
Hong Kong (HSI) fell 1.05% to 25,029, retreating after ending flat in the previous session.
India (SENSEX) fell 0.96% to 76,876.
Australia (AS51) shares rose 0.34% to 8,815 in early trade.
Currencies: (JPY:USD), (CNY:USD), (AUD:USD), (INR:USD), (HKD:USD), (NZD:USD).
More on Asia's markets and economy:
- EWY Vs. EWH: Michael Burry Has This Backwards
- EWY: Why South Korea's Bear Market Is A Warning Sign To U.S. Stock Investors
- Forget Korea, Japan Could End The Bull Market
- Japan's June trade deficit widens to ¥406.9B as 25.4% import spike overwhelms export gains
- Asian markets mixed amid Middle East tensions and new U.S. tariff threats
