Major Asian equity markets ended Friday with a mixed performance, as investors balanced gains in Japan and India with declines across China, Hong Kong, and South Korea amid global tech sector volatility.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed higher at 54,253.68 (+0.81 %) on renewed buying interest, while India’s Sensex finished up modestly. In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slid to 26,559.95, down 1.21 %, pressured by ongoing risk aversion toward tech and cyclicals. China’s Shanghai Composite ended down roughly 0.25 % at 4,065.58, reflecting cautious sentiment among mainland traders. South Korea’s KOSPI likewise closed weaker as broader risk appetite waned.
Japan and India outperform in risk-off environment
Investors favoured Japanese equities, partly driven by domestic political catalysts and stronger local demand, supporting the Nikkei’s advance. India’s markets also posted moderate gains, buoyed by resilient corporate earnings. Meanwhile, Chinese large-caps and Hong Kong shares bore the brunt of defensive positioning, with the Hang Seng underperforming on broad sector pressure.
Sector themes and regional context
Asia’s divergence reflects differing exposures: export-oriented and tech-heavy bourses underperformed as global tech stocks weighed on sentiment, while domestic consumption and financial names showed relative resilience. Korea’s market, sensitive to global demand cycles, faced downside pressure, echoing similar risk-off cues elsewhere.
Looking ahead
Analysts anticipate continued regional dispersion in performance as global central bank messaging and trade dynamics shape investor flows. Japanese markets may continue attracting interest ahead of political developments, while heightened scrutiny on tech valuations could keep near-term volatility elevated.
Newshub Editorial in Asia – February 7, 2026
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