Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors parse Australia inflation data

Asia Markets

Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors parse Australia inflation data

Published Tue, Jan 6 2026

6:33 PM EST

Updated 6 Min Ago

thumbnailLee Ying Shan@in/ying-shan-lee@LeeYingshanWATCH LIVE

Key Points

  • Australia's benchmark ASX/S&P 200 inched higher after inflation data came in below forecasts.
  • U.S. stocks hit record highs overnight, brushing aside Venezuela tensions.

Sydney Opera House, designed by Danish architect Mr Jorn Oberg Utzon, at first light as the sun rises over Sydney harbor and city center skyscrapers.

Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Wednesday as investors parsed Australia's inflation data.

The country's benchmark ASX/S&P 200 rose 0.38% after domestic inflation data came in below forecasts. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% from a year earlier in November, missing Reuters' expectations of 3.7%, and below October's 3.8% inflation.

Monthly inflation was also unchanged from October, suggesting inflation may be cooling and easing the case for a hike in interest rates.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slid 0.45%, while the Topix lost 0.63%. South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.89%, while the small-cap Kosdaq edged 0.12% lower.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid 0.43%, while mainland CSI 300 added 0.13%.

U.S. crude futures fell 1.3% to $56.39 per barrel after U.S. President Donald Trump said that Venezuela would transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. The remarks followed a weekend operation in which U.S. forces seized former leader Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. equity futures were little changed in early Asian hours.

Overnight in the U.S., the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average reached new heights as investors moved past the recent U.S. attack on Venezuela.

The broad market index rose 0.62%, notching a record close of 6,944.82. It also posted a new all-time high during the session. The blue-chip Dow advanced 484.90 points, or 0.99%, likewise reaching an intraday all-time high and closing at a record of 49,462.08. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.65% and ended at 23,547.17.

— CNBC's Liz Napolitano, Fred Imbert and Sean Conlon contributed to this report.

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