Asian markets settled mostly higher on Tuesday after Wall Street hit another record high overnight, despite concerns about the US Justice Department's criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Japan’s Nikkie Index ended at a record high on growing expectations that a potential general election next month could solidify Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s political standing, allowing her to take bolder steps to boost the economy. Seoul shares climbed at another record milestone after South Korean chip giant SK hynix said it would spend 19 trillion won ($12.9 billion) building an advanced chip packaging plant, as the firm rides the global AI boom. However, Chinese shares declined amid profit-taking in high-flying defense and technology shares.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 4,138.76 | -26.53 | -0.64 |
| Hang Seng | 26,848.47 | 239.99 | 0.90 |
| Jakarta Composite | 8,948.30 | 63.58 | 0.71 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,708.20 | 12.76 | 0.75 |
| Nikkei 225 | 53,549.16 | 1,609.27 | 3.10 |
| Straits Times | 4,807.13 | 40.35 | 0.85 |
| KOSPI Composite | 4,692.64 | 67.85 | 1.47 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 30,707.22 | 139.93 | 0.46 |
