Asian markets rise on softer oil, lower treasury yields

September 18, 2026 (MLN): Asian markets traded higher on Friday, supported by gains in U.S. equities, softer oil prices and a retreat in Treasury yields, easing concerns over inflation and energy supply.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.90%, while the broader Topix gained 0.17%. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 2.67%, with the small-cap Kosdaq rising 0.45%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.67%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 increased 1.05%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was broadly flat, according to CNBC.

Earlier, Nikkei 225 futures pointed to further gains, with Chicago futures trading at 64,880 and Osaka contracts at 64,770, against the index’s previous close of 64,136.25.

Hang Seng futures stood at 24,667 versus the previous close of 24,604.29, while S&P/ASX 200 futures were at 8,815 compared with Thursday’s close of 8,732.40.

Oil prices declined after concerns over potential energy supply disruptions eased. Saudi Arabia reportedly decided to make additional crude cargoes available to Asian refiners through ship-to-ship transfers near Oman’s Sohar port, helping reduce immediate supply concerns.

The regional gains followed a strong session on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 316 points, or 0.6%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.1% and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.7%.

The rebound came a day after U.S. equities fell sharply following the Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate hike and signals pointing to at least one further increase this year.

Technology stocks led Thursday’s recovery, with investors appearing to refocus on the artificial intelligence investment cycle and its potential contribution to corporate earnings despite concerns surrounding higher interest rates and inflation.

Meanwhile, investors are awaiting remarks from Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid later Friday for further insight into the central bank’s policy outlook.

Despite Thursday’s gains, U.S. stocks remained mixed for the week. The Dow was down 1.5% week-to-date, on track for a third consecutive weekly decline, while the S&P 500 was 0.3% lower. The Nasdaq, however, was up 0.3% for the week.

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