Asian markets settled mostly higher on Thursday amid bets that the Federal Reserve will deliver two quarter-point cuts by year-end, in October and December. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting key US non-farm payrolls data on Friday for direction. However, some gains were limited by rising trade tensions ahead of a long-awaited call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Hong Kong and Chinese markets gained, led by tech and artificial intelligence shares. Seoul shares rose as the new government vowed to restart talks with North Korea and beef up a trilateral partnership with the US and Japan. Although, Japanese shares declined as Japan's 30-year bond auction saw the weakest demand since 2023, ramping up pressure on the government to adjust issuance.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,384.10 | 7.90 | 0.23 |
| Hang Seng | 23,906.97 | 252.94 | 1.06 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,113.42 | 44.38 | 0.63 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,518.12 | 10.15 | 0.67 |
| Nikkei 225 | 37,554.49 | -192.96 | -0.51 |
| Straits Times | 3,917.69 | 13.81 | 0.35 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,812.05 | 41.21 | 1.47 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 21,674.43 | 56.34 | 0.26 |
