Asian Stocks Mixed as Japan, South Korea Gain; China, Hong Kong Lag

Asian stock markets traded mixed on Monday as investors weighed global cues, central bank policies, and corporate updates. Japanese equities rebounded, with the Nikkei 225 climbing 1.5% and TOPIX up 0.9%, recovering from last week’s drop. The bounce came despite the Bank of Japan’s hawkish signals, as it kept interest rates unchanged but announced plans to gradually reduce its massive ETF holdings. Losses were limited after BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda struck a moderate tone, avoiding commitments on near-term rate hikes.

South Korea’s KOSPI advanced 0.9%, supported by Samsung Electronics, which surged nearly 5% on reports it secured NVIDIA’s approval to supply advanced AI memory chips. The move positions Samsung to challenge SK Hynix and Micron in the fast-growing artificial intelligence semiconductor market, boosting sentiment in the tech-heavy index.

In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index extended losses for a third straight session as investors booked profits in major internet stocks, despite continued demand for local chipmakers. Mainland Chinese shares underperformed, with the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite flat after the People’s Bank of China left its loan prime rate unchanged. Investors remained focused on U.S.-China trade dialogue following progress on TikTok’s U.S. operations.

Elsewhere, Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.4%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index was little changed. Futures for India’s Nifty 50 slipped 0.1% as markets assessed the potential fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on H-1B visas, a policy shift expected to pressure India’s vital IT and outsourcing sector.

Global sentiment was tempered despite record Wall Street highs last week following a Federal Reserve rate cut. U.S. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.1% in Asian trading, as attention turned to upcoming economic data and remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.