Asian stock markets rose on anticipation of the latest US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which could provide critical insight into Federal Reserve policy. Gains across major indices reflected investor optimism, with the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index climbing and Japan’s Nikkei 225 advancing, buoyed by robust corporate earnings and easing bond yields. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index saw a lift, led by gains in tech stocks.
The US dollar held steady, consolidating recent gains as traders positioned themselves for the inflation data release. The CPI report is expected to signal whether the Fed’s tightening cycle is nearing an end, keeping markets on edge. While the broader sentiment across Asia remains positive, concerns linger over China’s sluggish economic recovery, which could temper the region’s growth prospects in the months ahead.
This market movement underscores the heightened sensitivity of global assets to US monetary policy shifts, as traders eye clues on the Fed’s next steps.