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Optimism over trade deals has strengthened the bullish sentiment across Asia-Pacific stock markets. US President Trump announced a new trade agreement with Japan, featuring a reduced tariff rate of 15% on Japanese imports (down from 25%) and a significant Japanese investment commitment of US$550 billion into the US.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 soared 3.7% intraday, aiming for its best single-day gain since 10 April 2025, and touched a 12-month peak at 41,255. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also rose 1% to near a four-year high of 25,405, buoyed by speculation of an extension to the US-China trade truce beyond the 12 August deadline, ahead of next week’s third round of US-China talks in Stockholm.
Read more in our medium-term outlook, Nikkei 225 Forecast: Start of new medium-term bullish trend amid rising JGB yields
Singapore’s Straits Times Index is on pace for its 13th straight all-time closing high, rising 0.4% intraday to 4,226. Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.7% to close at 8,737, driven by strength in energy and materials sectors.
The US dollar traded mixed during the Asia session following a two-day decline in the Dollar Index, which fell to 97.40, breaching its 20-day moving average of 97.60. Risk-on currencies outperformed: the New Zealand dollar gained 0.2% and the Australian dollar 0.1%, while safe havens like the Japanese yen and Swiss franc each slipped 0.2% against the greenback.
The yen’s softness was reinforced by dovish comments from BoJ Deputy Governor Uchida, who signalled no urgency to raise interest rates, even after the US-Japan trade announcement, dampening the currency’s appeal in a risk-on environment.
Gold (XAU/USD) dipped -0.2% after reaching a five-week high of US$3,431, pressured by improved risk sentiment and overbought momentum indicators. Despite the pullback, the yellow metal maintains its short-term bullish structure with key support at US$3,385/3,360.
WTI crude oil failed to mirror the equity market’s optimism, sliding -0.3% intraday to US$66.30, marking its fourth consecutive daily decline. Prices are now nearing critical range support at US$65.20, in place since 24 June, suggesting the potential for a bearish breakdown.
Fig 1: Key data for today’s Asia mid-session (Source: MarketPulse)
