Asia markets mixed as Japan inflation stirs rate-hike bets

November 28, 2025 (MLN): Asia markets traded in mixed territory on Friday as investors assessed fresh economic data from Japan and awaited key growth figures from India.

Trading sentiment was further tempered by muted U.S. stock futures, which hovered near the flatline during the Thanksgiving holiday, putting the Nasdaq Composite on course to snap its seven-month winning streak, according to the CNBC.

Tokyo’s latest inflation reading remained in focus for regional traders. Headline consumer prices in the Japanese capital rose 2.7% in October, easing slightly from 2.8% in September.

Core inflation excluding fresh food but factoring in energy reached 2.8%, edging above market expectations of 2.7% and staying firmly above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target.

The hotter-than-expected core figure strengthened speculation of a possible near-term interest rate hike by the central bank.

Investors are also awaiting India’s GDP data for the fiscal second quarter (July–September), due later today, which is expected to offer further insight into the strength of one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.

Across the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.15%, while the Topix managed to inch 0.1% higher. South Korea’s Kospi fell sharply by 1.41%, though the tech-heavy Kosdaq jumped 3.4%.

Battery materials producer Enchem surged around 13% after local media reported that it secured an order from Chinese EV battery giant CATL.

In contrast, LG Energy Solution tumbled 6.2%, emerging as the biggest drag on the Kospi, after parent company LG Chem revealed plans to reduce its stake from nearly 80% to around 70% to enhance shareholder returns.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was slightly lower during early trade.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dipped 0.24%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 edged up 0.23%. Shares of real estate developer China Vanke rebounded 1.68% after touching a record low earlier in the week.

In India, the Nifty 50 added 0.11%, and the BSE Sensex rose 0.14% in early deals.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq-100 futures were little changed overnight. U.S. markets were closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving, with trading scheduled to end early at 1 p.m. ET on Friday.

Despite a muted session, major U.S. indexes remain on track for a downbeat November as weakness in tech stocks, driven by concerns over AI-related earnings sustainability weighs on market sentiment.

Still, some analysts believe that the recent pullback could pave the way for a year-end rally as bargain-hunting investors re-enter the market.

Copyright Mettis Link News