Central Bank, Tech Outlooks Galvanize Asian Stock Markets

06:38 AM EDT, 09/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets rallied Friday on growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its policy meeting next week. Tech issues were favored.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo finished in the green, as did most other regional exchanges.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 finished up 0.9% as traders bought shares related to AI and semiconductor markets.

Striking another fresh all-time high, the benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 395.62 to 44,768.12, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 147 to 74.

Leading the upside was semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker Tokyo Electron, up 5.5%, while Mitsui Mining & Smelting declined 4.4%.

In economic news, Japan's industrial production declined by a seasonally adjusted 1.2% in July, and fell by 0.4% on the year, reported the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI).

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index closed up 1.2% on strength in property and tech issues.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 301.84 to 26,388.16, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 55 to 27. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1.7% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.6%.

Leading the upside was search engine giant Baidu, gaining 8.1%, while Chow Tai Fook Jewelry declined 2.9%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.1% to 3,870.60.

On the other regional exchanges, the South Korean KOSPI rose 1.5% closing at a fresh all-time high; the Taiwan TWSE rose 1%; the Australian ASX 200 advanced 0.7%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.1%, and the Thai Set rose 0.4%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.4%

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