Asian markets open mixed as technology concerns weigh on sentiment

Asian stock markets opened mixed on Friday, 9 October, with gains in Hong Kong and India contrasting with declines in Japan and mainland China. Investors assessed weakness in US technology shares, elevated borrowing costs and continuing uncertainty over energy supplies from the Middle East.

Japan and mainland China open lower
Japan’s Nikkei 225 opened 0.57% lower at 68,648, extending the cautious mood following overnight losses on Wall Street. Concerns about the financing requirements and profitability of artificial intelligence investment continued to weigh on technology sentiment.

Mainland Chinese benchmarks also started lower. The Shanghai Composite opened down 0.21% at 3,804, while the Shenzhen Component fell 0.51% to 12,557. The technology-focused ChiNext index declined 0.5% to 3,021.

Hong Kong moved in the opposite direction. The Hang Seng Index opened 0.65% higher at 23,941, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 0.58%. The Hang Seng Tech Index rose a more modest 0.29%, illustrating the uneven performance across the region.

India rebounds as other markets pause
Indian equities began Friday’s session higher after sharp losses on Thursday. The Sensex rose 0.59% to 72,016.18 in opening trade, while the Nifty 50 advanced 0.65% to 22,376.65.

Information technology companies were among the leading gainers, with TCS rising 2.37% and Infosys adding 2.12%. The recovery followed declines of 1.4% in the Sensex and 1.6% in the Nifty during the previous session.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded higher during the morning. Markets in South Korea and Taiwan were closed for public holidays.

Oil and borrowing costs remain in focus
The overnight US session provided a mixed backdrop. The Nasdaq Composite fell approximately 1.3% and the S&P 500 lost 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher.

Oil prices eased during Asian trading, although Brent crude remained above $100 a barrel following Thursday’s sharp increase. Continued disruption risks in the Middle East kept energy costs central to inflation concerns.

Investors also monitored government bond markets, where elevated yields have increased financing costs. For companies planning substantial spending on AI infrastructure, that environment has intensified scrutiny of debt requirements, balance sheets and expected returns.

Newshub Editorial in Asia – 9 October 2026