ASIA: Asian Equities Mostly Higher, Japan Leads As Yen Falls

Global equities are mostly higher today as investors navigate central bank policy signals, political developments, and geopolitical risks. In Japan, stocks posted gains fueled by a weaker yen, boosting exporters like technology and automotive firms. The Topix +1.70% and Nikkei 225 +1.90% driven by positive sentiment following the BoJs dovish stance, even as the Tankan report bolstered confidence in the economy. U.S. Equity futures are little changed today. Investors remain cautious following headlines that Israel had begun “targeted ground raids” in southern Lebanon, escalating a campaign to root out Hezbollah despite international appeals for restraint and US Dockworkers strike is set to go ahead following now deal being reached.

• It has been a slow session, with very light trading as China, Hong Kong & South Korean markets are closed.
• Japanese equities are ticking higher post lunch, tech stocks particularly semiconductor names are the top performing sector with the likes of Tokyo Electron +3.2% & Disco Corp +4.30%, exporters are also trading well while Consumer Staples & Discretionary stocks are lagging today.
• Australia's ASX200 is -0.90% retreating from record highs with mining and banking stocks leading the decline  BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue dropping over 2%, while all major banks were also lower. Despite the market downturn, REA Group rose 5.2% after abandoning its Rightmove acquisition, Sigma Health surged 15.6% on acquisition news, and Appen continued its rally, up 10.2%.
• Asian EM is higher today, with Philippines's PSEi +1.20%, Indonesia's JCI +0.70%, Thailand's SET +0.85% while India's Nifty 50 is Flat.