Oil Prices Hit Four-Month High as Geopolitical Risks and Supply Disruptions Intensify 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Retreats After Fed Decision 
Dollar Struggles as Policy Uncertainty Weighs on Markets Despite Official Support 
Indonesian Stocks Plunge as MSCI Downgrade Risk Sparks Investor Exodus 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Copper Prices Hit Record Highs as Metals Rally Gains Momentum on Geopolitical Tensions 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
A solid close on Wall Street overnight translated into somewhat softer gains in Asia on Thursday morning. Asian markets were generally higher on Thursday, with a slew of manufacturing data from the region prompting little reaction, while Chinese bourses were closed.
Chinese stock markets were shut on Thursday in observance of National Day. Chinese factory activity continued to deteriorate last month as new work fell at the quickest rate in three years, raising fresh calls for policymakers to add more stimulus as the economy continues to slow. The Caixin-Markit China manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 47.2 in September, the lowest since March 2009, from 47.3 in August, coming in stronger than the preliminary reading of 47.0. The Purchasing Managers' Index rose from 49.7 in August to 49.8 last month, signalled a slight moderation in the industry's contraction.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.27% to 17,435.02 points within the first hour of trade, while Tokyo's broader Topix gauge jumped 0.64% to 1,420.25 points. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) Tankan Manufacturing Index of large-scale factories fell from 15 to 12 in the September quarter.
Korea's benchmark Kospi index advanced 0.21% to 1,966.90 points this morning in Seoul.
The benchmark Australian S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.80% to 5,061.90 points in Sydney, with Australia's big lenders supporting the index, as well as resource stocks.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.18% to 5,583.35 points this afternoon in Wellington.
