Asia-Pacific markets set for mixed open; Australia inflation data in focus

Asia-Pacific markets set for mixed open; Australia inflation data in focus


The Australian flag is in front of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 14, 2024. 

Kristof Z. Markovics | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Asia-Pacific markets were set for a mixed open Wednesday after key Wall Street benchmarks rose, with the Nasdaq Composite closing at a new record high as tech stocks gained.

Traders in Asia will assess consumer price data out of Australia, with inflation for the quarter ended in September expected to fall to 2.9%, down from 3.8% in the previous quarter.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 opened 0.23% lower.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 futures pointed to a higher open for the market, with the contract in Chicago at 39,255 and its counterpart in Osaka at 39,160 compared to the index’s previous close of 38,903.68.

Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures were at 20,746, higher than the index’s last close of 20,701.14.

In the U.S., the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 0.78% to close at a record high of 18,712.75.

The S&P 500 added 0.16% to close at 5,832.92, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154.52 points, or 0.36%, to end at 42,233.05.

— CNBC’s Hakyung Kim and Alex Harring contributed to this report.



Source

Here are the European exporters most exposed if Trump’s Greenland tariffs kick in
World

Here are the European exporters most exposed if Trump’s Greenland tariffs kick in

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Jan. 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. Tom Brenner | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a rising wave of tariffs on several European allies, raising the alarm for industries and […]

Read More
Japan PM Takaichi calls Feb 8 election seeking mandate for spending plans, defence build-up
World

Japan PM Takaichi calls Feb 8 election seeking mandate for spending plans, defence build-up

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to the media after a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, at her official residence in Tokyo, Japan, November 25, 2025. Issei Kato | Reuters Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she will call a national election for February 8 to seek voter backing for increased spending, tax […]

Read More
Europe weighs using trade ‘bazooka’ against the U.S. as Greenland crisis deepens
World

Europe weighs using trade ‘bazooka’ against the U.S. as Greenland crisis deepens

A protester takes part in a demonstration to show support for Greenland in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Jan. 17, 2026. Tom Little | Reuters European states are reportedly considering retaliatory tariffs and broader punitive economic counter-measures against the U.S. after President Donald Trump threatened fresh export levies, deepening a rift over Greenland. Trump announced Saturday that eight […]

Read More