As investors awaited meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the majority of Asia-Pacific markets saw an upward trend on Monday. Friday saw the conclusion of the recent U.S.-Russia meeting meant to address the continuous standoff between Kyiv and Moscow without negotiating a truce.
Driven by excellent results in the consumer cyclicals, healthcare, and industrial sectors, the Nikkei 225 index
Furthermore, Japan’s overall Topix index rose 0.43% to 3,120.96. The Kospi index in South Korea reversed its prior two-day gains, finishing 1.5% lower at 3,177.28, while the small-cap Kosdaq declined 2.11% to 798.05. Taiwan’s Taiex index climbed by 0.61% as well, concluding at 24,482.52, hence exceeding its past record close from July 2024. As of 1:40 p.m. Indian Standard Time (4:10 a.m. ET), the benchmark Nifty 50 in India increased 1.21% and the BSE Sensex index grew 1.06%.
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These market swings result from the government’s decision to lower the products and services tax on small petrol and diesel automobiles from 28% to 18%, Reuters reported, quoting sources knowledgeable with the state. After briefly reaching an intra-day peak, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index erased prior gains and finally closed 0.23% higher at 8,959.39. Non-oil domestic exports in Singapore dropped by 4.6% in July from the same month the year before, which was worse than the 1.8% decrease economists polled by Reuters expected. A slight decline in the US equity futures was observed, even though there had been optimism about the reduction of interest rates by the US Federal Reserve
