Asia report: Shares broadly higher ahead of US inflation data

12th Aug 2026 08:42

(Sharecast News) - Asian markets were mostly higher on Wednesday, with investors tracking firmer oil prices and awaiting key US inflation data due later in the day.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.99% to 67,630, South Korea's Kospi jumped 3.7% to 6,579.04, and the Shanghai Composite added 0.3% to 3,946.68. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.83% to 25,440.92, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5% to 9,209.40.

The Nikkei advanced as heavyweight tech and industrial names gained, supported by steady risk appetite across the region.

Chip‑related stocks were firmer, with sentiment underpinned by ongoing strength in global semiconductor demand.

The Kospi outperformed, lifted by renewed buying in major chipmakers after recent volatility. Samsung Electronics climbed sharply, while SK Hynix also posted strong gains, helping drive broader market momentum.

Australian shares slipped, with the ASX 200 weighed down by losses in financials and energy despite firmer crude prices.

Oil prices were higher, with Brent crude up around 1% as geopolitical tensions continued to threaten shipping routes and constrain supply.

Traders noted that uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on a cargo ship by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Bab el‑Mandeb strait of the Red Sea that killed six people kept crude supported. Higher oil prices have added to inflation pressures globally, keeping markets sensitive to incoming US data.

Attention turned to the latest US CPI report due later on Wednesday, with economists expecting headline inflation to ease slightly to around 3.4% in July.

A softer reading could reduce pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, though policymakers remain alert to persistent price risks.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com