Asian markets were mixed as investors balanced expectations around global interest rates with lingering uncertainty over recent developments in Venezuela and geopolitical risk.
Major Japanese and South Korean benchmarks pulled back after a strong start to the year. Nikkei 225 fell about 0.9% to 52,041.97, while Kospi declined 0.5% to 4,503.23, erasing some of the recent record gains seen a day earlier. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 managed a modest 0.3% rise to 8,708.50. In China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost about 1% to 26,471.97, while the Shanghai Composite Index added roughly 0.3% to 4,095.94. These moves reflect divergent regional sentiment after Wall Street’s strong tech-led gains earlier in the week. AP News
In energy markets, Brent crude oil eased back as reports emerged that the US expects to take control of up to 30–50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan crude for sale at market prices following the ousting of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Reuters
Across the Atlantic, US equities continued their upward trajectory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed about 1% to a fresh record of 49,462, while the S&P 500 rose around 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite gained close to 0.7%, as major technology shares remained in favour amid broader optimism on economic data and earnings. AP News
Investors also have one eye on upcoming economic releases and central bank decisions, with interest rate expectations continuing to influence asset allocation as markets digest both macroeconomic signals and geopolitical developments.
