Federal Reserve Outlook, Earnings Lift Asian Stock Markets

05:38 AM EST, 11/26/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets gained ground Wednesday, as the odds of a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month remained largely intact Tuesday following fresh economic data.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the green, though Shanghai edged lower. Other regional exchanges tracked higher, led by a 2.7% rise on Seoul's KOSPI index.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 1.9% on a rally in tech shares.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 899.55 to 49,559.07, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 209 to 16.

Leading the upside was semiconductor-maker Socionext, up 7.6%, while printed circuit board manufacturer Ibiden declined 3.8%.

In economic news, Japan's leading index of business conditions rose to 108.6 in September, up from 107.0 in August, and striking further above the 100-mark that separates expected growth from contraction, reported the Cabinet Office.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened moderately higher and drifted, but closed up 0.1% as traders mulled earnings reports.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 33.53 to 25,928.08, as gaining issues outnumbered losers to 51 to 32. The Hang Seng TECH Index rose 0.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.2%.

Leading the upside was online delivery service Meituan, gaining 5.7%, while Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group declined 6.1%, the latter after reporting earnings.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.2% to 3,864.18.

On the other regional exchanges, the Taiwan TWSE inclined 1.9%; the Australian ASX 200 gained 0.8%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.4%, and the Thai Set declined 0.6%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.2%.

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