On Monday morning (15 September, 9:15 AM, GMT+7, Bangkok time), indices in Asia Pacific exhibited a mixed performance as market participants closely monitored high-level discussions in Spain between U.S. and Chinese officials. Critical updates from Beijing, including figures on retail sales, fixed asset investment, and the urban unemployment rate, are also key attention for investors.
Officials from the world’s largest economy, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, met with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade envoy Li Chenggang in Madrid. The agenda included sensitive topics such as economic and national security strategies, U.S. tariffs, and the looming deadline regarding the divestment of the Chinese-owned app TikTok.
Traders are also closely watching the Federal Reserve meeting this week, with hopes running high that policymakers will announce a rate cut when the session wraps up on Wednesday in the U.S.
Meanwhile, markets in Japan and Malaysia were closed for a holiday.
South Korea’s KOSPI climbed by 0.08% to 3,398.28, and Australia’s ASX 200 fell by 0.26% to 8,842.
As for stocks in China, Hong Kong’s HSI rose by 0.24% to 26,451.22. Shenzhen’s SZI grew by 0.89% to 13,039.63, while Shanghai’s SSEC dropped by 0.11% to 3,866.25.
The U.S. stock markets were mixed on Friday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) contracted by 0.59% to 45,834.22. S&P 500 slid by 0.05% to 6,584.29, while NASDAQ gained 0.45% to 22,141.10. VIX surged by 0.34% to 14.76.
As for commodities, oil prices settled higher on Friday following a Ukrainian drone strike that disrupted operations at Russia’s largest western port. However, worries over weaker demand in the United States limited the rally. Brent crude closed at $66.99 per barrel, up 62 cents or 0.93%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate settled at $62.69, increasing 32 cents or 0.51%.
This morning, Brent futures expanded 26 cents or 0.39% to $67.25 a barrel, and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) added 30 cents or 0.48% to $62.99 per barrel.
Meanwhile, gold futures dipped 0.34% to $3,673.7 per Troy ounce.
