Asian markets settled mostly down on Wednesday on caution ahead of the New Year holiday and took cues from Wall Street losses. Meanwhile, investors digested minutes from the US Federal Reserve’s December meeting, which showed that most policymakers would be open to interest rate cuts should inflation continue to ease, though there remained division over the timing and scope of any potential easing. Stock markets of Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia were closed for a market holiday observed for New Year's Eve. Hong Kong shares finished the last trading day of 2025 with losses, though for the year the Hang Seng Index gained 28% -- its best performance in eight years. However, Chinese shares gained marginally after China’s factory activity ticked up slightly in December. According to data released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's Composite PMI Output Index edged up to 50.7 in December from 49.7 in the previous month, marking the highest reading since June. The NBS Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1 in December, up from 49.2 in November. The NBS Non-Manufacturing PMI climbed to 50.2 in December, compared to 49.5 in November. The market forecast was for a 49.8 print. Meanwhile, China's RatingDog Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1 in December from 49.9 in November.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,968.84 | 3.72 | 0.09 |
| Hang Seng | 25,630.54 | -224.06 | -0.87 |
| Jakarta Composite | -- | -- | -- |
| KLSE Composite | 1,680.11 | -4.42 | -0.26 |
| Nikkei 225 | -- | -- | -- |
| Straits Times | 4,646.21 | -9.17 | -0.20 |
| KOSPI Composite | -- | -- | -- |
| Taiwan Weighted | 28,963.60 | 256.47 | 0.89 |
