Asian stocks end higher: Nikkei climbs 1.27%, Kospi surges over 2%

Asian equities advanced on Thursday, extending gains from the previous session as investors grew increasingly confident that the US Federal Reserve would soon begin cutting interest rates.

Gains across the region, however, were tempered by escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

China and Hong Kong stocks feel jitters

China’s Shanghai Composite Index fluctuated through the day before closing 0.1% higher at 3,916.23, as investors weighed renewed U.S. criticism of Beijing’s export restrictions on rare earth minerals.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described China’s curbs as “China versus the world,” saying Washington and its allies would “neither be commanded nor controlled.”

Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month in South Korea, a key moment as the current 90-day tariff ceasefire between the two nations is due to expire in November.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.1% to 25,888.51 after a volatile session, as investors stayed cautious amid the renewed geopolitical tension.

The Hang Seng Tech Index declined 1.2%.

Among major stocks, Xiaomi slumped 3.6% to HK$47.70, Sun Hung Kai Properties dropped 1.8% to HK$93.55, Alibaba Group Holding slipped 0.3% to HK$161.20, and Tencent Holdings lost 1.1% to HK$620.

Offsetting some of the losses, Pop Mart International Group surged 5.6% to HK$288.20 after JPMorgan Chase upgraded the stock to “overweight” from “neutral.”

Japan, South Korea lead regional gains

Japan’s markets closed sharply higher as investors welcomed signs that the Japan Innovation Party could join a coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ahead of next week’s parliamentary vote to choose a new prime minister.

The Nikkei average rose 1.27% to 48,277.74, while the Topix index gained 0.62% to 3,203.42.

Technology stocks were among the biggest gainers, with SoftBank Group rising 8.6% and Tokyo Electron up 4.1%.

Renesas Electronics jumped 8.2% after reports indicated the chipmaker is working with bankers to explore a sale of its timing division.

South Korea’s Kospi advanced 2.49% to a record 3,748.37, led by a sharp rally in technology shares on optimism over AI-driven demand.

Samsung Electronics gained 2.8%, while SK Hynix soared 7.1% to record highs.

Automakers also benefited from optimism over a potential trade deal with the US, with Hyundai Motor rising 8.3% and Kia Corp up 7.2%.

Other regional markets

Australia’s markets closed at record highs after data showed the unemployment rate climbed to a four-year high of 4.5% in September, fueling speculation of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia next month.

The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.86% to 9,068.40, and the broader All Ordinaries Index added 0.83% to 9,375.90.

Indian equities closed sharply higher on October 16, with Nifty ending around 25,600.

The Sensex gained 862.23 points, or 1.04%, to finish at 83,467.66, while the Nifty added 261.75 points, or 1.03%, closing at 25,585.30.