Stocks in Asia trade mixed on Monday with Japan’s Nikkei gained +2.12% to 52,411.34 points, the biggest percentage mover on the screen, following news of a “Trump-Xi truce.” The Hang Seng Index (HSI) also climbed, adding +0.43% to 26,019.14. However, markets in Australia and mainland China posted losses; the ASX 200 dropped by -0.17% to 8,866.70, and the Shanghai Composite fell by -0.17% to 3,948.181. Meanwhile, India’s Nifty 50 was unchanged at 25,722.10 points.
U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday, lifted by a surge in Amazon shares following the company’s robust quarterly earnings report. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite led the gains, advancing 0.61% to close at 23,724.96. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 climbed 0.26% to finish at 6,840.20, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked up by 40.75 points, or 0.09%, ending the day at 47,562.87.
Sentiment across equity markets was buoyed by Amazon’s impressive financial performance, which helped drive a rally in technology shares.
Crude oil prices advanced during early Asian trading on Monday, buoyed by OPEC+’s move to delay planned production increases for the first quarter of 2026, a decision that helped allay worries over a potential oversupply in the market.
Brent crude contracts were up $0.37, or 0.57%, reaching $65.14 per barrel in early deals. Similarly, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude recorded a gain of $0.36, or 0.57%, trading at $61.34 a barrel.
On Friday, Brent crude finished at $65.07, marking an uptick of 7 cents, or 0.11%. WTI crude closed at $60.98 a barrel, rising 41 cents, or 0.68%, according to market data.
The decision by OPEC+—the coalition of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies—to postpone output hikes has provided much-needed reassurance to market participants worried that increased supply could outpace demand early next year.
In contrast, gold prices retreated by 1% last Friday as uncertainty lingered over the prospects of another interest rate cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve later this year. The bullion posted 0.47% gain in early trading of Asian market to $4,015 per ounce.
