Kospi Leads Asian Markets in Mixed Session Ahead of US Inflation Report
Asian stock markets were mixed on Wednesday as investors awaited the release of US inflation data. South Korea's Kospi led the pack, jumping 2.44% in a day that saw other major indices make only modest gains.
Japan's Nikkei and Topix, which had been closed for a holiday, made tiny gains upon reopening, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng futures dropped by 0.4%, showing some caution among investors.
The tech sector provided a boost to Asian markets, with US futures also edging up slightly. However, worries about global tensions and the potential for future Federal Reserve actions kept the market in check.
Oil prices continued their upward trend, climbing for the sixth day in a row, while gold prices dipped back from recent highs as hopes for a U.S.-Iran deal faded.