Asia-Pacific Markets Decline as Investors React to South Korea's Inflation Data

Singapore: Asia-Pacific markets mostly declined on Tuesday as investors digested South Korea's August inflation figures, which showed the lowest year-on-year increase since March 2021. The country's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 2 percent year-on-year, down from July's 2.6 percent and matching expectations from a Reuters poll of economists. On a month-to-month basis, the CPI increased by 0.4 percent, slightly above the 0.3 percent forecasted.

South Korea's Kospi index dropped by 0.61%, closing at 2,664.63, while the smaller Kosdaq index fell 1.15 percent to 760.37.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 saw a slight decline, ending the day at 38,686.3, though the Topix index rose by 0.64 percent, finishing at 2,733.27.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also experienced a minor dip of 0.08 percent , closing at 8,103.2.

Meanwhile, mainland China's CSI 300 gained 0.26 percent, rebounding from a seven-month low on Monday to close at 3,273.49. In contrast, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slipped 0.18% in the final hour of trade.

U.S. markets were closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday, but futures for the three major indexes were down ahead of Tuesday's session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell by 57 points, or 0.14 percent, while S&P 500 futures declined by 0.12 percent, and Nasdaq-100 futures dropped by 0.26 percent.
CNBC