On Thursday (27 August, 10:16 AM, GMT+7, Bangkok time), major indices in the Asia Pacific traded mixed as investors assessed China’s latest industrial profit figures and looked ahead to the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium for indications on the future direction of U.S. interest rates.
Shares of Nvidia rose more than 4% after the chipmaker reported results above analysts’ expectations and projected strong revenue growth. Revenue in its fiscal second quarter more than doubled from a year earlier and exceeded estimates by the widest margin in two years.
The company’s forecast pointed to continued strength in demand for AI infrastructure, helping ease concerns that the sector’s investment cycle could be losing momentum.
China’s industrial sector drew attention after official data showed profit growth slowed in July. Industrial profits increased 11.2% year-on-year, marking the weakest pace recorded so far this year. Cumulative profits for the first seven months rose 17.6% from a year earlier, down from the 18.7% growth recorded during the first half.
On the geopolitical front, developments in the Middle East remained another focus for investors amid conflicting reports. President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy had located and detonated explosives placed by Iran, while a Bloomberg report cited warnings from U.S. allies that mines could still be present in the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan’s NIKKEI dipped by 0.15% to 66,164.19. Australia’s ASX 200 fell by 0.76% to 9,058.20, while South Korea’s KOSPI surged 2.26% to 6,962.00.
As for stocks in China, Shanghai’s SSEC rose by 0.40% to 3,928.17. Shenzhen’s SZI grew by 0.83% to 13,956.02, while Hong Kong’s HSI dropped by 0.57% to 25,506.59.
The U.S. stock markets edged down on Wednesday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) declined by 0.21% to 53,463.88. NASDAQ contracted by 0.08% to 26,130.19, and S&P 500 lost 0.02% to 7,675.70. VIX plummeted by 1.55% to 15.21.
As for commodities, oil prices settled lower on Wednesday as markets weighed diplomatic discussions between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz alongside a smaller-than-anticipated increase in U.S. crude inventories. Brent crude futures fell 74 cents, or 0.84%, to finish at $87.84 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude declined 13 cents, or 0.16%, to settle at $82.23 a barrel.
This morning, Brent futures decreased 70 cents, or 0.80%, to $87.14 per barrel, and the WTI futures slid 65 cents, or 0.79%, to $81.58 per barrel.
Meanwhile, gold futures gained 0.73% to $4,687.50 per Troy ounce.
