Asia-Pacific markets mixed on Fed rate bets

Asia-Pacific markets mostly advanced on Monday as investors weighed the latest US tariffs and jobs report, which dragged Wall Street lower on Friday and fuelled expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut next month.

The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong increased by 0.92 per cent to close at 24,732.55, and the CSI 300 index in mainland China rose by 0.39 per cent to 4,070.70.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 benchmark closed 1.25 per cent lower at 40,290.70, and the Topix index fell 1.10 per cent to 2,916.20.

South Korea’s Kospi index advanced by 0.91 per cent to close at 3,147.75, while the Kosdaq rose by 1.46 per cent to 784.06.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 benchmark ended the day flat at 8,663.70. In India, the Nifty 50 index was up by 0.49 per cent, and the BSE Sensex index added 0.42 per cent as of 1:40 p.m. Indian Standard Time (4:10 a.m. ET).

Attribution: CNBC
Subediting: M.S.Salama