Asian markets opened in opposite directions on Friday, 25 September. Japan’s Nikkei 225 began higher, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell. Mainland China, South Korea and Taiwan were closed for holidays, leaving fewer major markets trading.
Tokyo starts higher
The Nikkei opened at 65,639.62, up 125.63 points from Thursday’s close. Buying was selective at the start of trading, with investors weighing the previous day’s mixed performance on Wall Street against the outlook for Japanese shares. The opening gain showed a positive start, but it was only an early reading of the session.
Hong Kong moves lower
The Hang Seng opened down 0.96% at 24,523.5 points. Its technology index also lost 0.99% at the open, with major internet shares among those under pressure. The decline gave Hong Kong a markedly different start from Tokyo, underscoring how investors were responding to local conditions rather than moving together across the region.
Holiday closures narrow the picture
There was no Friday opening for the Kospi in South Korea, the Taiex in Taiwan or mainland China’s principal stock markets. Taiwan and mainland China were closed for the Mid-Autumn Festival, while South Korea’s closure fell during its Chuseok holiday period. Those absences matter when assessing the regional trend: some of Asia’s largest technology and manufacturing shares could not react in their home markets today.
What investors can take from the opening
Friday’s first trades point to a split market, with Japanese shares gaining and Hong Kong shares retreating. Holiday closures make it difficult to call the moves an Asia-wide verdict. Attention will turn to whether Tokyo’s advance holds through its session and how the closed markets respond when trading resumes.
Newshub Editorial in Asia – 25 September 2026
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