Asian stock markets are exhibiting a mixed trend on Tuesday with investors choosing to tread cautiously amid a lack of prominent triggers. Though Wall Street ended higher overnight, investors in most parts of the Asia-Pacific region appear keen on taking some profits after recent strong gains.
In the Australian market, energy, materials and financials stocks are gaining in strength. Consumer staples, industrials, telecom and property trusts stocks are also attracting attention.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index is up 58.1 points or 1.2% at 4,849. The broader All Ordinaries index is trading at 4,859, up 55.7 points or 1.2% over its previous close.
Among top miners, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are trading higher by nearly 1.5% over their previous closing prices. Newcrest Mining is up with a modest gain and Orica is trading higher by 1.3%. Bluescope Steel, Fortescue Metals, Lihir Gold and Incitec Pivot are also up in positive territory with notable gains.
In the energy space, Woodside Petroleum, Oil Search, Origin Energy and Santos are trading higher by 0.7%-2%.
Among bank stocks, ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Bank are trading stronger by 1.3%-1.8%, while Westpac Banking Corporation is in negative territory with a modest loss. Macquarie Group is trading 0.7% up.
In the currency market, the Australian dollar opened higher and was quoting at US$0.8871-US$0.8875, up 0.54% from Thursday's close of US$0.8823-US$0.8827. At noon, the Aussie was trading around 0.8865 to the U.S. dollar.
After a flat start and a susbsequent fall to lower levels, the Japanese stock market rebounded into positive territory before drifting lower again due to lack of support at higher levels.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index, which shot up to around 10,683 from a low of 10,597.7, was down 6.98 points at 10,627.25 at the end of the morning session.
On Monday, the Nikkei had ended up 140 points or 1.33% at 10,634.23, a four-month closing high.
Mining stocks moved higher, thanks to a firm global trend. Real estate, transport equipment, gas and retail stocks are also up in positive territory, while banking, insurance, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals stocks are mostly trading in the red. Automobile and electric power stocks are exhibiting a mixed trend.
In the currency market, the U.S. dollar traded in the upper 91 yen range in early deals in Tokyo. The yen is currently trading at 91.72 to the U.S. dollar.
The South Korean market is trading weak with investors indulging in some selling in banking, oil, telecom and technology stocks. Shipping, steel and automobile stocks are trading mixed.
The benchmark KOSPI index, which declined to 1,673.2 in early trades but edged up to 1,683 subsequently, is currently down 10.6 points or 0.6% at 1,675.
Among technology stocks, heavyweight Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor are trading flat, while LG Display LCD and LG Electronics are trading higher by 1.1% and 0.5% respectively.
In the banking space, Korea Exchange Bank is down with a loss of 2.7% and Shinhan Financial is trading lower by 1.3%, while Woori Finance and KB Financial are down modestly from their previous closing levels.
Among automobile stocks, Kia Motor is trading 0.5% up, while Hyundai Motor is down with a loss of 0.4%. Among airliners, Korean Air is up nearly 2% and Asiana Airlines is trading modestly higher.
In the shipping space, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding are trading higher by 1.5% and 0.4% respectively, while Samsung Heavy Industries and STX Pan Ocean are exhibiting weakness.
Oil stocks SK Holdings, S-Oil and KEPCO are trading notably lower. Among steel stocks, Hyundai Steel is up 1.3%, while POSCO is trading lower by about 0.6%. Telecom stocks SK Telecom and KT Corp are trading weaker by 3.3% and 2.4% respectively.
Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and New Zealand are trading modestly higher, while Malaysia and Taiwan are exhibiting weakness. Markets across the region had closed moderately higher on Monday.
On Wall Street, stocks managed to close modestly higher on Monday and extended their winning streak to a sixth successive session. After moving in a somewhat choppy fashion early on, the major averages moved to the upside going into the close.
The Dow moved up 27 points or 0.3% to 10,547.1, the Nasdaq advanced by 5.4 points or 0.2% to 2,291.8 and the S&P 500 edged up 1.3 points or 0.1% to 1,127.8.
Major European markets ended moderately higher on Monday. The French CAC 40 index and the German DAX index gained 0.9% and 0.8% respectively, while the U.K. markets were closed on the day.
Crude oil gained for a fourth straight day on Monday on improved demand prospects as strong holiday sales data boosted the outlook for the economy. Oil also got a boost from a slightly weaker dollar and turmoil in the Middle East. Light sweet crude for February rose to US$78.77 per barrel, up 72 cents on the session.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.