Asian markets traded mostly higher in early deals on Friday, boosted by strong earnings and continued artificial intelligence interest in the technology and semiconductor sectors. Meanwhile, dropping oil rates linked to diplomatic talks in the Middle East helped relieve immediate energy inflation anxieties across the region. Investors maintained a cautious optimism as they awaited interest rate clues from Federal Reserve leaders at the upcoming Jackson Hole symposium. Japan’s Nikkei advanced on the back of strong economic data, including faster inflation and lower unemployment, alongside positive corporate earnings and stock buybacks.
Nikkei surged 348.02 points or 0.53% to 66,480.00, Straits Times rose by 8.99 points or 0.16% to 5,693.11, Hang Seng jumped by 85.26 points or 0.33% to 25,651.00, Taiwan weighted lifted by 311.60 points or 0.68% to 46,286.82, Shanghai Composite enlarged by 2.54 points or 0.06% to 3,959.11, and Jakarta Composite was up by 27.11 points or 0.41% to 6,548.86.
On the flip side, KOSPI Index down by 115.31 points or 1.67% to 6,797.06, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI index fell by 11.81 points or 0.68% to 1,729.91.
