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What's Affecting Markets Today
Asia-Pacific markets delivered a mixed performance on Monday following Wall Street’s sharpest decline of the year last Friday, as U.S. economic data signaled slowing growth and persistent inflation.
In South Korea, the Kospi fell 0.62%, while the small-cap Kosdaq declined 0.74%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged 0.2% higher, extending gains after reaching a three-year high in the previous session. Mainland China’s CSI300 index slipped 0.13% in volatile trading. Japanese markets remained closed for a public holiday.
Singapore is set to release its January inflation data later in the day. A Reuters poll forecasts headline inflation at 2.15% year-on-year, up from 1.60% in December. The core inflation rate, which excludes accommodation and private transport costs, is expected to ease to 1.5% from 1.8% in the prior month.
Investors remain cautious amid global economic uncertainties, with attention on regional inflation trends and potential monetary policy shifts in the coming weeks.
ASX Stocks
ASX 200 - 8,255.5 (+0.60%)
The Australian sharemarket declined on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump’s reaffirmation of tariffs on Mexico and Canada heightened investor concerns over global trade tensions. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5% to 8265.10 by 2pm, while the All Ordinaries dropped 0.6%. Losses were broad-based, with consumer discretionary stocks leading the decline.
Trump’s directive to curb Chinese investment in key US sectors and a sharp sell-off in Nvidia (-3%) further dampened sentiment. Wesfarmers lost 3.3% after trading ex-dividend, while Domino’s Pizza slumped 12.8% on heavy restructuring costs.
The banking sector saw profit-taking, with Commonwealth Bank and NAB down 1.4%. Commodity and metal prices remained flat amid tariff concerns and new sanctions on Iranian oil.
Among individual stocks, Woodside Energy rose 2.3% despite a 13% decline in underlying profit. Zip surged 16.6% on strong cash earnings growth, while Johns Lyng Group and Viva Energy plunged 33.6% and 25.4%, respectively, on profit downgrades. Block fell 3.8% after weak Q4 revenue.
Leaders
ZIP ZIP Co Ltd (+17.44%)
HLI Helia Group Ltd (+17.36%)
PRN Perenti Ltd (+7.54%)
APA APA Group (+7.02%)
PRU Perseus Mining Ltd (+5.05%)
Laggards
JLG Johns LYNG Group Ltd (-33.68%)
VEA Viva Energy Group Ltd (-25.83%)
PNV Polynovo Ltd (-16.95%)
NXL NUIX Ltd (-12.13%)
DMP Dominos (-10.94%)
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