On Monday morning (29 December, 9:22 AM, GMT+7, Bangkok time), major indices in the Asia Pacific showed a varied performance as global equity markets approach the last trading week of 2025.
Bank of Japan policymakers discussed the possibility of continuing to raise interest rates following a December hike to a 30-year high of 0.75%, with one member advocating for increases every few months, according to a summary of opinions. Some board members pointed to Japan’s low interest rates as contributing to yen weakness and subsequent inflationary pressures.
Japan’s NIKKEI declined by 0.45% to 50,523.63. Australia’s ASX 200 shrank by 0.33% to 8,734.20, while South Korea’s KOSPI advanced by 1.56% to 4,194.20.
As for stocks in China, Shanghai’s SSEC surged by 0.26% to 3,974.09. Hong Kong’s HSI grew by 0.44% to 25,931.85, while Shenzhen’s SZI slid by 0.28% to 13,565.32.
The U.S. stock markets edged down on Friday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) dipped by 0.04% to 48,710.97. NASDAQ dropped by 0.09% to 23,593.09, and S&P 500 lost 0.03% to 6,929.94. VIX increased by 0.97% to 13.60.
As for commodities, oil prices climbed on Monday as investors monitored heightened Middle East tensions and unresolved Russia–Ukraine peace talks. Brent crude rose 57 cents, or 0.94%, to $61.21 a barrel by 0112 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained 54 cents, or 0.95%, to $57.28.
Both benchmarks fell over 2% on Friday, pressured by worries over a potential supply glut and anticipated Ukraine peace discussions between Presidents Zelenskiy and Trump. Yang An of Haitong Futures noted that ongoing strikes on energy infrastructure in Russia and Ukraine, along with increased instability in the Middle East, are driving concerns over possible supply disruptions.
Meanwhile, gold futures fell by 0.50% to $4,529.80 per Troy ounce.
