Asian markets showed modest gains on Monday amid cautious trading as investors remained watchful of the ongoing negotiations concerning U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. According to a report, U.S. futures saw a decline while oil prices remained largely unchanged.
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Despite Beijing’s efforts to stimulate the economy, shares in China experienced a downturn due to persisting uncertainties surrounding potential talks between Washington and Beijing. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong increased slightly by 0.1% to 21,995.82, whereas the Shanghai Composite Index remained nearly stable at 3,294.02. Meanwhile, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose by 0.4% to 35,863.60, and South Korea’s Kospi inched up by 0.1% to 2,5549.19. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 saw a more significant rise of 0.8% to 8,028.20, and Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.6%.
On Wall Street, Big Tech stocks contributed to a positive close at the end of last week, with the S&P 500 climbing 0.7% to 5,525.21, continuing a robust three-day rally. The Nasdaq composite led the market with a 1.3% increase to 17,382.94, driven by gains in tech giants such as Nvidia, which surged 4.3%. Alphabet also saw a 1.7% rise following a stronger-than-expected profit report.
However, not all tech stocks fared well, as Intel experienced a 6.7% drop despite surpassing earnings expectations. The company cited “elevated uncertainty across the industry” and provided a revenue forecast that did not meet analysts’ predictions.
Investor sentiment remains fragile as companies across various sectors express concerns over the unpredictability caused by Trump’s tariffs, which complicates financial forecasting. A recent report highlighted a decline in U.S. consumer sentiment, with expectations for future conditions dropping significantly since January.
In the commodities market, U.S. benchmark crude oil saw a slight decrease of 25 cents to $63.27 per barrel, while Brent crude fell by 24 cents to $66.04 per barrel.
