Asian Shares Plunge Despite Improved US Inflation Data
Asian shares took a hit on Friday after US inflation data showed an improvement in July. According to the latest figures, US inflation rates have slowed down, which could be seen as a positive sign for the global economy.
Despite this encouraging news, Asian markets were mostly lower, with some notable exceptions. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and SK Hynix stock price at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea showed a mixed picture.
The US inflation data was released on Friday, August 14, 2026, and it showed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) had increased by a lower-than-expected rate. This news did little to change the trajectory of US futures, which were little changed after the release of the data.
A currency trader works at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday, August 14, 2026, monitoring screens showing the KOSPI and the foreign exchange rate between the US dollar and the South Korean won. The news from the US was not enough to lift Asian markets, which were largely unaffected by the better-than-expected inflation data.