Asian markets mixed at open as Nikkei hits record high, Kospi slips; Sensex eyes gains

Asian markets ushered in Friday’s session with an air of tentative optimism, riding the wave of Wall Street’s record-breaking rally after a highly anticipated US rate cut.

Investors across the region approached the morning with a sense of cautious hope, drawing confidence from global sentiment while remaining alert to the ever-present undercurrents of policy risk, currency volatility, and the looming question of China’s economic trajectory.

As trading floors buzzed to life, the mood was neither outright bullish nor deeply anxious: it was simply alive and searching for direction, with everyone waiting to see where the momentum would land as the day unfolded.

Nikkei 225, Kospi 100: Surge powered by tech and exporters

Japan’s Nikkei 225 launched higher, brushing past previous records as tech names and exporters took center stage.

The weaker yen proved to be a tailwind, especially for companies with significant overseas earnings.

Early trade saw the index leap over 1%, hitting a high around 45,277, cheered along by unexpectedly upbeat GDP figures from the previous quarter.

The Bank of Japan’s steady hand at the monetary policy tiller reassured markets further, with few expecting any dramatic policy shifts this week.

Enthusiasm on the Tokyo exchange was almost palpable, as sector-wide gains pointed to revived risk appetite, even if analysts warned that recent highs might prompt some profit-booking before the weekend.

Korea’s Kospi 100, in contrast, set off on a more subdued note as it slip 0.4% at open, trading around 3,558.37.

While there was some initial momentum on the back of Wall Street’s rally, early enthusiasm faded as the session wore on. Concerns about softening Chinese demand for Korean tech products and a choppy global chip market kept sentiment in check.

Instead of chasing gains, many investors chose to tread water and watch for fresh cues, either from local policymakers or the next big international headlines.

The result was a flat-to-slightly lower index, showing that even in a region swept up by global optimism, local realities are never far from mind.

Hang Seng, China, and an eye on India

The Hang Seng in Hong Kong opened in the red, unable to shake lingering doubts about China’s property market and ongoing geopolitical tension.

After a torrid rally in previous weeks, up over 44% year-on-year even a modest 0.32% drop was enough to trigger nervous chatter across trading desks.

Mainland Chinese stocks appeared more composed, with the CSI 300 eking out small gains of 0.29%, thanks to optimism about further stimulus and continued faith in the government’s AI and technology push.

Investors remain cautiously optimistic but realize that volatility is likely to remain a feature rather than a bug, at least in the short term.

Sensex and Nifty 50 are poised to open on a steady note after finishing higher for a third straight session, buoyed by global optimism and sustained FPI inflows.

While momentum remains bullish, markets could see some consolidation around resistance zones, with 25,500 acting as a near-term hurdle for Nifty 50.

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