December 23, 2025 (MLN): Asian markets were mostly higher on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street's gains overnight as technology and artificial intelligence stocks gained new momentum.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.11%, its fourth consecutive session of gains, with broad buying across sectors.
Japanese stocks had mixed developments.
According to CNBC, the Nikkei 225 stock average remained nearly flat, while the overall TOPIX index rose 0.56%, supported by gains in financial and healthcare stocks.
Meanwhile, foreign exchange trends remained in focus after Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said the government remains flexible in dealing with the recent yen depreciation, leaving open the possibility of market intervention.
Despite the Bank of Japan raising interest rates to the highest level in 30 years, the yen fell sharply on Friday, reaching 157.77 yen to the dollar.
It recovered slowly in subsequent trading, and was last trading around 156.27. Mr. Katayama said that recent currency movements are speculative and divorced from economic fundamentals.
The Korean market also closed mixedly. The benchmark Kospi rose 0.43%, while the tech-heavy Kosdaq fell 0.79%.
Shares in shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean rose 10% after US President Donald Trump said the company would work with the US Navy to build new frigates.
In Greater China, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.1%, and mainland China's CSI300 index rose 0.35%.
Newly listed companies attracted strong investor interest in Hong Kong, with QingSong Health Corporation and Nuobikan Artificial Intelligence Technology soaring 134% and 323% respectively in their trading debuts.
QingSong Health's IPO attracted massive demand, with the retail tranche receiving over 1,400 applications and raising nearly HK$602 million.
Nuobikan's public offering received nearly 189 applications and secured HK$303 million.
Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, all eyes were on Singapore, which is scheduled to release its November inflation figures.
Last night, the US stock market closed higher for the third consecutive day.
The S&P 500 rose 0.64%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.47% and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.52%, reinforcing positive sentiment in global markets.
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