Asia markets set to open higher, tracking Wall Street gains amid Fed cut hopes

Asia markets set to open higher, tracking Wall Street gains amid Fed cut hopes


Here are the opening calls for the day

Happy mid-week from Singapore. Asia markets are set for a mostly higher open.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 43,325, while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 43,280, against the index’s last close of 42,718.17.

Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index  stood at 25,144, pointing to a higher open compared with the HSI’s last close of 24,969.68.

However, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was set to start the day lower with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,852, compared with the index’s last close of 8,880.8.

— Lee Ying Shan

S&P 500 hits new intraday high

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on August 11, 2025.

NYSE

The S&P 500 rose 0.8% on Tuesday to hit a new intraday high.

Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

hide content

S&P 5D chart

During the session, the S&P 500 surpassed its prior high from July 31. A closing high would be the S&P’s 16th of the year.

Earlier in the morning, the Nasdaq Composite also hit a new intraday high. A record close would be the benchmark’s 19th of the year.

— Nick Wells, Lisa Kailai Han



Source

South Korea’s former first lady imprisoned after court issues warrant
World

South Korea’s former first lady imprisoned after court issues warrant

South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee arrives at the special prosecutor’s office in Seoul, South Korea, August 6, 2025. Kim Hong-Ji | Reuters South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been arrested after a court late Tuesday issued a warrant to arrest her following accusations of graft that she denies, a special […]

Read More
Stock futures are little changed after market returns to record highs: Live updates
World

Stock futures are little changed after market returns to record highs: Live updates

Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange on August 12, 2025. NYSE Stock futures are little changed Tuesday night as investors look ahead to inflation data due later this week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 13 points, or less than 0.1%. S&P futures fell 0.04%, while Nasdaq 100 futures were […]

Read More
Do Kwon pleads guilty to U.S. fraud charges in  billion crypto collapse
World

Do Kwon pleads guilty to U.S. fraud charges in $40 billion crypto collapse

Do Kwon, a South Korean cryptocurrency executive charged with fraud, stands with his attorney David Patton to plead guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in New York City, New York, U.S., August 12, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. Jane Rosenberg | Reuters Do Kwon, the South Korean cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind two digital […]

Read More