Nikkei Jumps 1% While Shanghai and Hang Seng Slip: Asian Markets Today

Asian equity markets were trading mostly lower in early trade on Thursday, with one clear exception standing out from the rest of the region.

Japan's Nikkei 225 was the standout gainer, rising around 846 points, or 1.3 percent, to 65,865, as Tokyo's market caught up with a global rally in artificial-intelligence-linked stocks after returning from a three-day public holiday. The index touched an intraday high of 66,219 during the session.

Click Here – Get Free Investment Predictions

Regional Snapshot

Index	Level	Change
Nikkei 225	65,865.00	+1.30%
Straits Times	5,701.62	-0.15%
Hang Seng	24,747.00	-0.35%
Taiwan Weighted	48,027.85	-0.27%
Jakarta Composite	6,356.10	-0.30%
Shanghai Composite	3,916.75	-0.50%

Outside of Japan, the tone was more cautious. The Shanghai Composite eased about 0.5 percent to 3,916.75, the Hang Seng slipped 0.35 percent to 24,747, the Taiwan Weighted index was down 0.27 percent, and Indonesia's Jakarta Composite fell 0.3 percent. Singapore's Straits Times index was little changed, down a modest 0.15 percent.

Also read – Vedanta Power Set to Enter Nifty 500: Should Investors Take Note?

Also read – Why TVS Group's Venu Srinivasan Is at the Centre of the Tata Sons IPO Fight

What Is Driving the Divergence

The split performance largely comes down to Japan's unique setup. With Tokyo's market closed for three sessions, the Nikkei had catching up to do once trading resumed, and it did so by tracking a broader global rally in AI-linked technology names that had continued through the holiday window elsewhere.

Across the rest of the region, climbing bond yields and a firmer oil price complex weighed on broader risk appetite. Adding to the pressure, the US dollar held near a two-month high after a stronger-than-expected manufacturing PMI reading reignited inflation fears and rate-hike bets, a combination that has historically pressured most Asian currencies and equity markets outside of Japan.

Check Live Stock Fundamentals on Univest Screener

Read-Through for Indian Markets

Mixed Asian cues fed directly into a soft opening for Indian benchmarks on the same day, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 both trading lower alongside broader weakness across mid-cap and small-cap gauges. A stronger dollar and higher global bond yields tend to weigh on foreign portfolio flows into emerging markets like India, making the region's overnight and early-session tone a useful lead indicator for domestic sentiment.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track your portfolio on the go.

Conclusion

Asian markets today paint a region split between a holiday-driven Nikkei catch-up rally and broader caution elsewhere, both ultimately tracing back to the same global backdrop of dollar strength and rising bond yields. Investors tracking Indian markets should watch whether this dollar and yield pressure eases through the week, since that has been the common thread pressuring both Asian and Indian equities today.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and must not be treated as investment advice. Stock markets are subject to risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Please verify all data independently and consult a registered investment adviser before making any investment decision. Univest Communications Private Limited, SEBI Registered Research Analyst, Registration No. INH000013776.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Nikkei 225 rise today while other Asian markets fell?

Ans. The Nikkei 225 gained around 1.3 percent as Japan's market, returning from a three-day holiday, caught up with a global AI-led rally that had continued elsewhere during the break.

Which Asian markets fell today?

Ans. The Shanghai Composite, Hang Seng, Taiwan Weighted index, Jakarta Composite, and Straits Times index all traded lower, pressured by climbing bond yields and a firmer US dollar.

What is pressuring Asian markets broadly today?

Ans. A stronger US dollar, following hot PMI data and renewed rate-hike bets, along with climbing bond yields and firmer oil prices, weighed on broader risk appetite across the region.

How does Asian market performance affect Indian stocks?

Ans. Weak or mixed Asian cues often feed into Indian market sentiment at the open, and dollar strength combined with rising global bond yields tends to pressure foreign portfolio flows into emerging markets like India.

What is the current level of the Nikkei 225?

Ans. The Nikkei 225 was trading around 65,865, up about 1.3 percent, after touching an intraday high of 66,219.

Is China's Shanghai Composite in an uptrend or downtrend today?

Ans. The Shanghai Composite was down about 0.5 percent at 3,916.75 in today's session, part of the broader regional weakness outside Japan.

Where can I track live index and stock data as an Indian investor?

Ans. You can check live index levels, stock prices, and fundamentals using the Univest Screener.