Record Zeniths on Asian Stock Exchanges on China GDP Reports, Japan Politics

06:46 AM EDT, 10/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets tracked solidly higher Monday, as mainland China reported third-quarter economic figures in line with expectations, and Tokyo resolved a national leadership snag.

Benchmark equity indices in Tokyo, Seoul, and Taiwan struck fresh all-time zeniths, in broad regional rallies led by tech issues.

Hong Kong and Shanghai also finished in the green.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 3.4% as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party struck a coalition deal to assure party leader Sanae Takaichi will become Japan's new prime minister.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1,603.35 to 49,185.50, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 217 to seven.

Leading the upside was tech financier SoftBank, up 8.5%, while retailer Ryohin Keikaku declined 2.5%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher and held ground, closing up 2.4% on a possible easing of China-US trade tensions, and after Beijing reported a slate of economic indicators largely in line with expectations.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 611.73 to 25,858.83, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 78 to 10. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 3% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1%.

Leading the upside was video game maker NetEase, gaining 5.2%, while property developer Longfor declined 1.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.6% to 3,863.89.

In economic news, China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.8% on the year in the third quarter, slowing modestly from the 5.2% expansion logged in the second quarter, reported the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

China's value-added industrial production in September rose 6.5% on year, topping the 5.2% gain in August, reported the NBS.

However, the nation's property sector remained weak, with house prices still falling in September, while retail sales in the month rose a tempered 3% on the year.

Fixed-asset investment in September fell 0.5% on the year, while the unemployment rate logged at 5.3% in the month, up from 5.2% in August, added the NBS.

On the other regional exchanges, the South Korean KOSPI rose 1.8%; the Taiwan TWSE rose 1.4%; the Australian ASX 200 gained 0.4%, and the Thai Set advanced 0.8%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.5%.

MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.