As of October 31, 2025, Asian markets exhibited a mixed performance, influenced by various regional economic developments and global market trends. Key drivers affecting the markets included significant corporate investments, shifts in consumer sentiment, and geopolitical factors.

Deloitte’s announcement of a US$64 million investment in Hong Kong, alongside plans to hire 1,000 staff, reflects a positive outlook for the region’s economic recovery and job market. This comes amid encouraging data from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which reported a 17% reduction in negative equity for Q3, suggesting improved financial stability for homeowners.

In terms of index movements, the Nikkei 225 outperformed its peers with a notable increase of 2.12%, driven by positive sentiment surrounding Japan’s economic resilience. Conversely, the Hang Seng Index fell by 1.43%, reflecting ongoing concerns about Hong Kong’s economic environment despite the positive news from Deloitte. The Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Component also declined, by 0.81% and 1.14%, respectively, indicating a cautious approach among investors.

Regional trends highlighted a divergence in performance, with the KOSPI gaining 0.50%, supported by strong domestic demand, while the NIFTY 50 and Straits Times Index posted slight declines. The S&P/ASX 200 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI also experienced minor losses, reflecting broader market uncertainties.

Overall, while certain markets demonstrated resilience and growth potential, others faced headwinds influenced by local economic conditions and external market dynamics. The mixed performance underscores the complexity of the Asian economic landscape as it navigates recovery and growth challenges.

In recent trading, the foreign exchange market saw the USD/JPY pair slightly increase by 0.02%, while the USD/CNY and USD/SGD also exhibited modest gains of 0.07% and 0.07%, respectively. Conversely, the AUD/USD and NZD/USD pairs declined by 0.21% and 0.35%, driven by weaker economic data from Australia and New Zealand. The USD/INR rose by 0.13%, influenced by ongoing inflation concerns in India.

In commodities, gold prices edged up by 0.11% to $4,020, supported by safe-haven demand amid geopolitical tensions. However, crude oil prices fell by 0.35% to $60.32, reflecting concerns over global supply and demand dynamics.

In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin surged by 2.05% to $110,504, while Ethereum rose by 2.00% to $3,879, buoyed by increased institutional interest and positive market sentiment.

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