Nikkei 225, Kospi, Hang Seng Index, Iran, Powell
Pedestrians crossing Nathan Road at night in Hong Kong, China
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Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Tuesday as traders shrugged off geopolitical flashpoints in Iran and Venezuela and the criminal investigation into U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 led gains in the region, rising 3.4 percent after resuming trading after the holiday, while the Topix rose 2.13 percent. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to dissolve the country’s Lower House at the end of this month and likely call early elections in February. public broadcaster NHK.
South Korea’s Kospi index gained 0.62%, while the small-cap Kosdaq lost 0.30%.
Investors will also keep a close eye on oil prices amid ongoing protests in Iran. President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing options for intervention in Iran, according to multiple reports released Sunday.
Trump is a Real Social post He said Monday that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25 percent tariff “on any business with the United States.” The new tariff on imports from Iran’s trading partners “will go into effect immediately.”
Brent crude futures It rose 1.52% to $64.3 per barrel. USA West Texas Central Crude oil rose 0.44% to $59.76 at 7:34 a.m. Singapore time (6:34 p.m. EST on Sunday).
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index gained 0.68%.
of hong kong Hang Seng Index Futures contracts would open higher, trading at 26,994 compared to the index’s previous close of 26,608.48.
US stock futures were flat in early Asian trading ahead of US consumer inflation data and key bank earnings results.
Overnight in the US, stocks rebounded from session lows, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average hit all-time highs.
The S&P 500 index increased by 0.16 percent to 6,977.27 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 86.13 points, or 0.17 percent, to 49,590.20 points. Both indices touched all-time high intraday records and closed at records. Nasdaq Composite closed at 23,733.90, up 0.26%.
— CNBC’s Sean Conlon, Yun Li and John Melloy contributed to this report.
