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ASIA STOCKS: Asian Equities Edges Lower Following FOMC Minutes

ASIA STOCKS
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Asian equities broadly declined on Thursday as risk sentiment weakened following the Fed’s latest meeting minutes, which signaled no urgency to cut rates. The stronger yen weighed on Japanese exporters, while concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals pressured South Korean markets.

  • The ASX 200 in Australia dropped 1.1% driven by a rising unemployment rate and declines in banking and mining stocks. New Zealand’s NZX 50 fell 0.7%.
  • Japan’s Topix Index fell 0.8%, the Nikkei 225 declined 1% as a stronger yen pressured exporters like Toyota (-1.5%), with additional selling in auto and pharmaceutical sectors amid U.S. tariff threats on cars, chips, and drugs.
  • South Korea’s KOSPI dipped 0.70%, with auto stocks like Hyundai Motor (-0.49%) and shipbuilders like HD Korea Shipbuilding (-5.02%) leading losses after Trump’s tariff comments, though Samsung Electronics (+0.17%) and LG Energy Solution (+1.64%) gained.
  • Chinese rare earth stocks could rise after the government proposed restricting mining to state-owned firms. Meanwhile, Alibaba faces a key earnings test after a recent AI-driven rally, earnings are expected today.
  • Elsewhere,  quantum computing stocks in South Korea (Iwin Plus +16%) and Japan ( NF Holdings +5%) advancing after Microsoft’s quantum chip announcement. 
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Asian equities broadly declined on Thursday as risk sentiment weakened following the Fed’s latest meeting minutes, which signaled no urgency to cut rates. The stronger yen weighed on Japanese exporters, while concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals pressured South Korean markets.

  • The ASX 200 in Australia dropped 1.1% driven by a rising unemployment rate and declines in banking and mining stocks. New Zealand’s NZX 50 fell 0.7%.
  • Japan’s Topix Index fell 0.8%, the Nikkei 225 declined 1% as a stronger yen pressured exporters like Toyota (-1.5%), with additional selling in auto and pharmaceutical sectors amid U.S. tariff threats on cars, chips, and drugs.
  • South Korea’s KOSPI dipped 0.70%, with auto stocks like Hyundai Motor (-0.49%) and shipbuilders like HD Korea Shipbuilding (-5.02%) leading losses after Trump’s tariff comments, though Samsung Electronics (+0.17%) and LG Energy Solution (+1.64%) gained.
  • Chinese rare earth stocks could rise after the government proposed restricting mining to state-owned firms. Meanwhile, Alibaba faces a key earnings test after a recent AI-driven rally, earnings are expected today.
  • Elsewhere,  quantum computing stocks in South Korea (Iwin Plus +16%) and Japan ( NF Holdings +5%) advancing after Microsoft’s quantum chip announcement.