This is CNBC’s live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets.
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday, with investors awaiting more details of the trade talks between the U.S. and China, which are set to kick off in Stockholm later in the day.
The talks will be led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Bessent said on Fox Business that he expects a trade-truce extension during the negotiations, which he added will include a broader range of topics, such as Beijing’s oil purchases from Russia and Iran.
The U.S.-China talks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. has reached an agreement with the European Union to lower tariffs to 15% on Sunday stateside.
The president had previously threatened 30% tariffs on most imported goods from the U.S.’s largest trading partner.
Samsung Electronics shares rise nearly 3.5% in early trade
Shares of Samsung Electronics rose as much as 3.49% Monday following its announcement of a $16.5 billion contract for supplying semiconductors.
The South Korean memory chipmaker did not name the counterparty.
Read more here.
— Amala Balakrishner, Dylan Butts
Advantest Corp shares plunge over 10% in early trade
Shares of Advantest Corp plunged as much as 10.35% Monday after the company completed the disposal of its treasury stocks as restricted stock.
The Japanese semiconductor equipment maker announced on Friday that 55,956 common stock shares were disposed at 10,700 Japanese yen ($72.40) per share.
That translates to a total disposal amount of 598.7 million Japanese yen.
The disposal of treasury stock as restricted stock happens when a company compensates employees with previously repurchased shares.
— Amala Balakrishner
Asia-Pacific markets start the day mixed
Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed Monday.
As of 8:10 a.m. Singapore time (8:10 p.m. ET), Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark fell 0.85% while the broader Topix index moved down 0.44%.
In South Korea, the Kospi index added 0.15% while the small-cap Kosdaq was flat.
Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 benchmark added 0.2%.
— Amala Balakrishner
U.S. futures move higher after Trump announces 15% tariffs on the EU
U.S. equity futures rose in early Asia hours after U.S. President Donald Trump lowered tariffs on the European Union to 15%, from 30% previously.
As of 8:03 a.m. Singapore time (8:03 p.m. ET Sunday), the S&P 500 futures added 0.39%, while Nasdaq 100 futures were 0.53% higher. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 156 points, or 0.35%.
— Amala Balakrishner
Here are the opening calls for the day
Good morning from Singapore.
Investors will be keeping a close watch on Chinese markets following reports that the country will resume trade talks with the U.S. in Stockholm on Monday to discuss longstanding economic disputes.
The talks will be led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index stood at 25,396, pointing to a stronger open compared with the HSI’s last close of 25,388.35.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 41,645 while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 41,410, against the index’s Friday close of 41,456.23.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was set to start the day lower with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,626, compared with its last close of 8,666.90.
— Amala Balakrishner
Stocks finish higher to round out a winning week
All three major averages finished in positive territory on Friday and posted gains for the weekly period.
The S&P 500 ended the session 0.40% higher, closing at 6,388.64, while the Nasdaq Composite finished the day up 0.24% to reach 21,108.32. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also rose 208.01 points, or 0.47%, to settle at 44,901.92.
— Sean Conlon
Any near-term market swings will likely be ‘temporary,’ UBS says
Investors shouldn’t fret over potential volatility in the market over the coming weeks, according to Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, chief investment officer for the Americas and global head of equities at UBS Global Wealth Management.
“Threats to Fed independence could linger as a risk to markets over the coming weeks, in our view. We also see potential risks from any resurgence of trade tensions ahead of the White House’s 1 August deadline, along with any signs of economic harm from tariffs. With global stocks at all-time highs, some combination of these has the potential to contribute to market volatility in the weeks ahead,” she wrote.
“Nevertheless, we would expect market swings to be temporary,” Hoffmann-Burchardi continued.
— Sean Conlon
