TLDR
- Asian stock markets increased on Thursday following a strong performance in the United States.
- Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.5 percent as Nissan Motor shares advanced after announcing a property sale.
- South Korea’s Kospi, Taiwan’s Taiex, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also recorded solid gains.
- Pony.ai and WeRide stocks fell sharply on their first trading day in Hong Kong.
- Wall Street indexes climbed as Alphabet, Broadcom, and Meta shares posted gains.
Asian stock markets advanced on Thursday after strong gains in the United States lifted investor confidence. The upward momentum followed encouraging corporate earnings and improved economic signals from Wall Street. Major indexes across Asia ended the session higher, driven by renewed optimism in global markets.
Tokyo Leads Regional Gains
Asian stock indexes opened higher, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rising 1.5% to 50,959.14. Nissan Motor shares increased 1.3% after the company announced plans to sell its Yokohama headquarters building. The automaker confirmed that it would release its quarterly earnings later in the day.
Japan’s positive movement supported broader Asian stock momentum. Investors responded to Nissan’s restructuring efforts and better trading sentiment. The index’s rise reflected improved market confidence after Wall Street’s rally.
In contrast, trading remained cautious as investors awaited new data from other major Asian stock exchanges. However, analysts said the rally in Tokyo reflected a short-term boost driven by U.S. gains. “Stronger corporate results in the U.S. have encouraged regional investors,” one analyst said.
Across Asia, stock markets continued to climb through Thursday’s session. South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.2% to reach 4,054.15, supported by advances in technology shares. Taiwan’s Taiex added 0.7%, maintaining the steady trend in regional trading.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.6% to 26,361.40, driven by buying in financial and property stocks. The Shanghai Composite increased 0.9% to 4,004.25, supported by energy and consumer firms. This performance reflected renewed stability across Asian stock markets.
However, two newly listed companies in Hong Kong faced challenges. Pony.ai dropped 13%, and WeRide fell 13.7% during their first trading day. Both companies operate in the self-driving car sector, which continues to face investor skepticism.
Wall Street Rally Fuels Confidence
Asian stock momentum followed Wednesday’s U.S. market rebound. The S&P 500 closed up 0.4% at 6,796.29, while the Dow Jones rose 0.5% to 47,311. The Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% to finish at 23,499.80.
Technology companies helped drive the U.S. advance. Alphabet climbed 2.4%, Broadcom added 2%, and Meta Platforms gained 1.4%. These increases provided a clear boost to Asian stock confidence during Thursday’s session.
In contrast, Nvidia and Microsoft shares declined slightly, limiting overall U.S. gains. However, traders remained focused on strong corporate earnings. “Markets responded well to improving profit reports,” said a New York-based economist.
Several U.S. companies released encouraging quarterly results. McDonald’s stock rose 2.2% after higher sales linked to the return of Snack Wraps. International Flavors & Fragrances gained 4.1% after posting better-than-expected profits.
Not all earnings brought good news. Axon Enterprise fell 9.4% after forecasting weaker future profits. Live Nation Entertainment dropped 10.6% following results that missed analyst expectations.
These reports have become crucial as government data releases remain suspended due to a shutdown. Without official updates, investors rely on company reports to gauge market strength. Asian stock investors also tracked these figures for future trading signals.
Asian Stocks Gain on Global Stability
Private employment data showed stronger hiring in October. ADP reported that companies added more jobs than expected, easing short-term concerns about the labor market. However, economists warned that hiring growth may slow.
The Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cut aimed to support spending and investment. The rate move marked the second cut this year. Yet inflation remained at 3% in September, above the Fed’s 2% target.
Policymakers continued to monitor employment and inflation trends. “We are balancing growth with price stability,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said earlier this week. Asian stock traders also watched Fed decisions closely due to their global impact.
In early trading Thursday, U.S. crude oil prices rose 26 cents to $59.86 per barrel. Brent crude gained 25 cents to reach $63.77 per barrel. Energy stocks across Asian stock exchanges reflected this moderate increase.
The U.S. dollar weakened slightly to 153.85 Japanese yen from 154.11 yen. Meanwhile, the euro strengthened to $1.1510 from $1.1494. Currency shifts provided additional support for Asian stock exporters.
Traders continued to assess how oil and currency markets influence regional equities. Analysts said exchange rate stability may help maintain steady momentum in Asian stock trading this week.
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