Mostly Higher In Asia; Defence Stocks Gain As Chinese Live-Fire Drills Continue

Major Asia-Pac equity indices are mostly higher at typing, bucking a mixed, tech-focused lead from Wall St. Notable gains were observed in semiconductor and defence-related stocks across the region, with the latter sector catching a bid as reports of China firing missiles over Taiwan and into Japan’s EEZ has done the rounds.

• The Nikkei is 0.8% better off at typing, hitting two-month highs in the process. Consumer staples and tech stocks outperformed, with the former catching a bid after domestic household spending data beat expectations, pointing to Japanese consumers increasing their spending for the first time in four months. Looking ahead, index heavyweight Tokyo Electron (+3.0%) reports earnings next Monday, with focus likely turning to its outlook amidst recent gloom-tinged forecasts issued by semiconductor industry peers.
• The Hang Seng trades 0.1% higher at typing, paring opening gains of as much as 0.5%. The property (+0.6%) and finance (+0.2%) sub-indices are in the green for a change, supported by Securities Times reports of several cities strengthening supervision of property presale funds in escrow accounts to ensure home deliveries.
• The ASX200 is 0.4% firmer at writing, with gains in materials (+1.7%) and healthcare (+0.8%) countering losses in energy and tech. The S&P ASX All Tech Index deals 0.7% softer at typing, with sentiment in the sector weaker after heavyweight Block Inc’s (-5.9%) earnings disappointment.
• The Taiex is 2.0% better off at writing after opening higher, on track to completely unwind losses observed earlier this week despite ongoing tensions with China on the back of outperformance in the Semiconductor (+2.7%) sub-gauge.
• E-minis trade 0.3% firmer apiece, with NASDAQ 100 contracts hitting three-month highs earlier in the session.