Asian market ended mixed on Thursday as firmer-than-expected US inflation data slightly lifted expectations for a Fed rate hike by year-end, while investors turned their focus to the Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's first Jackson Hole speech for clues on the US central bank's rate path. South Korea’s Kospi surged, supported by Nvidia’s stronger-than-expected Q2 earnings, which eased global anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence and semiconductor demand. Chinese markets climbed as traders awaited fresh policy support during the ongoing National People's Congress Standing Committee meeting following a slowdown in July industrial profit growth. China's industrial profits increased 17.6% YoY to 4.58 trillion Chinese Yuan in the first seven months of 2026, easing from an 18.7% rise in the January-June period.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,956.57 | 44.05 | 1.13 |
| Hang Seng | 25,565.74 | -87.23 | -0.34 |
| Jakarta Composite | 6,521.75 | 116.06 | 1.78 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,741.72 | -6.82 | -0.39 |
| Nikkei 225 | 66,131.98 | -130.18 | -0.20 |
| Straits Times | 5,684.12 | -37.47 | -0.65 |
| KOSPI Composite | 6,912.37 | 104.16 | 1.53 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 45,975.22 | 142.60 | 0.31 |
