Markets across Asia, the Arab world and Africa ended Friday without a common direction as investors balanced stronger corporate activity against rising bond yields, renewed inflation pressure and continuing disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
Asian markets finish mixed
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.30% to 66,016.36 points, taking its decline for the week to approximately 4%. Accelerating Japanese core inflation strengthened expectations that the Bank of Japan may have to raise interest rates again, placing additional pressure on export and technology shares.
Hong Kong moved in the opposite direction. The Hang Seng gained 1.21% to 26,009.46, while mainland China’s Shanghai Composite edged 0.04% higher to 3,905.20.
South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.88% to 6,912.95 as investors returned to semiconductor companies following recent technology-sector selling. Australia’s All Ordinaries declined 0.31% to 9,269.70, while India’s Sensex was effectively unchanged at 77,540.83.
The regional picture was therefore selective rather than broadly positive. Investors bought into markets where recent declines had created opportunities, while remaining cautious in countries facing tighter monetary conditions.
UAE markets move in opposite directions
Most Arab stock exchanges operate from Sunday to Thursday, leaving the United Arab Emirates as the principal regional market trading on Friday.
Dubai’s benchmark gained 0.3%, ending two consecutive sessions of losses. Emirates Integrated Telecommunications rose 3.1%, while Mashreq Bank advanced 1.3%.
Abu Dhabi’s index fell 0.7%. International Holding Company, the UAE’s largest listed company, declined 1.9%, while Alpha Dhabi Holding lost 1.7%.
Both markets nevertheless recorded a second consecutive weekly decline. Dubai lost 0.5% over the week and Abu Dhabi fell 0.4%.
Hormuz remains the central regional risk
Only seven commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, half the previous day’s number. Before the conflict began, the waterway handled approximately one-fifth of global daily oil consumption.
Oil eased by around 0.5% to $93.30 per barrel during the UAE session but remained close to a one-month high. Continued restrictions could raise shipping costs, strengthen inflation and affect government revenue across the region.
Gold supports African equities
South Africa delivered one of Friday’s strongest performances. The JSE All Share Index climbed 1.81% to 117,747.80 points, while the blue-chip Top 40 advanced 2.07% to 110,387.07.
Gold reached its highest level in more than three months, supporting South African mining shares and helping the rand strengthen. Nigeria ended more cautiously, with the Nigerian All Share Index edging 0.07% higher to 240,196.64.
The close showed markets responding differently to the same global pressures. Hong Kong and Seoul found technology buyers, Dubai gained support from banking and telecommunications, and Johannesburg benefited from precious metals. Tokyo and Abu Dhabi remained under pressure, leaving the wider session positive in places but far from a unified recovery.
Newshub Editorial in Asia and Africa – 22 August 2026
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