Asia-Pacific stocks mostly close higher as investors weigh tariffs, OPEC+ output hike

Asia-Pacific markets mostly ended higher Monday.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.92% to close at 24,732.55, while mainland China's CSI 300 index increased by 0.39% to 4,070.70.

Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark ended the day 1.25% lower at 40,290.70, while the broader Topix index fell 1.10% to 2,916.20.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi index advanced 0.91% to close at 3147.75, while the small-cap Kosdaq rose 1.46% to 784.06.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 benchmark ended the day flat at 8,663.70.

Over in India, the 50-stock benchmark Nifty 50 was up 0.49%, while the BSE Sensex index added 0.42% as of 1.40 p.m. Indian Standard Time (4.10 a.m. ET).

— Amala Balakrishner

Yields on Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) mostly fell Monday over fears about demand at the 10-year bond auction Tuesday after a weaker-than-expected jobs data in the U.S.

The yield on 10-year JGBs fell 4.7 basis point to 1.506% while that of 5-year JGBs declined by 5.8 basis points to 1.026%.

Meanwhile, the yield on 20-year JGBs ticked down marginally to 2.554% while that on 30-year JGBs moved up just over 1 basis point to 3.119%.

Elsewhere in the U.S, yields on 10-year Treasurys had ticked up nearly 3 basis points to 4.2493% as of 4 p.m. Singapore time (4 a.m. ET).

— Amala Balakrishner

Shares of Thai Airways International surged as much as 231.33% after resuming trade Monday.

As of 12:55 p.m. local time (1:55 a.m. ET), shares had pared gains to 186.14% to trade at 9.50.

Shares of Thailand's national carrier last traded on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on May 17, 2021, according to LSEG data.

Trading was reportedly halted after the airline went into bankruptcy-protected restructuring in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.

— Amala Balakrishner

Indian stocks started the day higher Monday.

The benchmark Nifty 50 was up 0.35%, while the BSE Sensex index moved up 0.23% as of 9:36 a.m. Indian Standard time (12.06 a.m. ET).

— Amala Balakrishner

Oil prices declined Monday after OPEC+ agreed to another large output increase and investors assessed the possibility of a global oversupply.

Brent Crude was trading at $69.53 per barrel after moving down 0.2%, as of 11:15 a.m. Singapore time (11:15 p.m. ET Sunday).

Meanwhile, the West Texas Intermediate crude ticked down 0.1% to $67.27.

— Amala Balakrishner

Spot gold fell Monday after rising 2% to hit a one-week high in its previous session, following concerns over a soft jobs report in the U.S. and possibility of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

Prices of the yellow metal were down 0.22% at $3,355.37 per ounce as of 11:05 a.m. Singapore time (11:05 p.m. ET Sunday).

Citi Investment Research expects gold to hit $3,500 per ounce in the next three months, up from $3,300 previously.

This is because "the near-term U.S. cyclical growth and inflation outlook has worsened of late," as the higher-than-forecast tariffs "are likely to result in higher U.S. inflation, the investment firm's analysts wrote in a Monday note.

Other factors that were considered include a weakening U.S. labor market and dollar bearishness, the analysts added.

— Amala Balakrishner

Chinese and Hong Kong stocks started the day lower Monday, following declines in most of the other key Asia-Pacific markets.

As of 9:40 a.m. local time (9:40 p.m. ET Sunday), the Hang Seng Index lost 0.23%, while mainland's CSI 300 declined by 0.42%.

— Amala Balakrishner

Japanese stocks fell Monday with the blue-chip Nikkei 225 benchmark and broader Topix index down over 2% in early trade.

Declines were led by financial names and export-oriented companies such as automobiles as the yen weakened against the greenback, following speculation of rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve next month.

The 225-stock Nikkei 225 share average fell 2.05% to hit 39,969.79 at 10:05 a.m. local time (9:05 p.m. Sunday ET), while the broader Topix index declined by 1.81% to 2,895.54.

Meanwhile, the yen had depreciated by 0.22% against the U.S. dollar to 147.69.

— Amala Balakrishner

Asia-Pacific markets started the day mixed Monday.

Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark plunged 2.05%, while the broader Topix index declined by 1.86% as of 8:11 a.m. Singapore time (8:11 p.m. ET Sunday).

In South Korea, the Kospi index ticked up 0.13%, while the small-cap Kosdaq added 0.53%.

Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 benchmark fell 0.21%.

— Amala Balakrishner

U.S. equity futures were little changed in early Asia hours Monday as investors digested the U.S.' latest round of tariffs, which have raised concerns over mounting inflation and an economic slowdown.

Futures tied to the broad-based S&P 500 moved down 0.05%, while Nasdaq 100 futures ticked up 0.06% as of 7:55 a.m. Singapore time (7:55 p.m. Sunday ET). Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 12 points or 0.03%.

— Amala Balakrishner

Good morning from Singapore.

Investors are continuing to assess the U.S.'s latest tariffs which have now raised concerns over mounting inflation levels and an economic slowdown.

They will also be keeping a watch on oil prices after OPEC+ agreed to raise production to 547,000 barrels per day in September.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open lower, with the futures contract in Chicago at 39,965, while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 39,900, against the index's Monday close of 40,799.60.

Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 24,282 pointing to a weaker open compared with the HSI's last close of 24,507.81.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was set to start the day lower with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,587, compared with its last close of 8,662.

— Amala Balakrishner

OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 547,000 barrels per day for September, the latest in a series of accelerated output hikes to regain market share, as concerns mount over potential supply disruptions linked to Russia.

OPEC+ cited a healthy economy and low stocks as reasons behind its decision.

"Given fairly strong oil prices at around $70, it does give OPEC+ some confidence about market fundamentals," said Amrita Sen, co-founder of Energy Aspects, adding that the market structure was also indicating tight stocks.

In early Asian trade on Monday, Brent crude futures fell 43 cents, or 0.62%, to $69.24 a barrel by 2218 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $66.94 a barrel, down 39 cents, or 0.58%, after both contracts closed about $2 a barrel lower on Friday.  

Read more here.

— Reuters

Stocks closed lower on Friday, after a weaker-than-expected jobs report worried investors that the economy is meaningfully slowing down.

The S&P 500 slipped 1.6% to close 6,238.01, while the Nasdaq Composite pulled back 2.24% 20,650.13. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 542.40 points, or 1.23%, to finish the session 43,588.58.

— Brian Evans