Asian markets are presenting a mixed picture on Friday morning, October 2, as losses in Japan and India contrast with gains in Australia and South Korea. Holiday-related closures in China and India limit active market participation, while movements in the Australian Dollar Index and Japanese Yen Index provide additional signals about currency performance across the region.

Japan and India Record the Steepest Reported Declines

Japan’s Nikkei 225 records the largest decline among the listed equity benchmarks, falling 0.88% to 68,380.20 points. The index remains above the 68,000-point level but trails the other reported regional equity markets in percentage performance. The available figures show the scale of the decline but do not identify a specific catalyst.

India’s S&P BSE SENSEX falls 0.79% to 71,909.70 points, marking another substantial decline among the reported equity benchmarks. However, the Indian market calendar lists Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti as a holiday for the National Stock Exchange on October 2. The supplied SENSEX figure should therefore be interpreted in the context of the holiday rather than automatically treated as a live move during Friday’s morning session.

The performance gap between Japan and the advancing markets in Australia and South Korea highlights the uneven direction of regional equities. The figures do not point to a uniform movement across Asia, with the major indexes showing different results.

Australia and South Korea Advance as Major Indexes Diverge

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rises 0.29% to 8,639.80 points, placing the index in positive territory during the morning session. The gain is modest but contrasts with the declines recorded by Japan’s Nikkei 225 and India’s S&P BSE SENSEX.

South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index advances 0.25% to 6,986.13 points. Despite the increase, the index remains below the 7,000-point threshold. Its performance is slightly weaker than that of Australia’s benchmark, reinforcing the mixed tone across the active regional markets.

The Hang Seng stands at 24,613.27 points, with a reported change of +0.37%. The SSE Composite Index is at 3,842.19 points, with a reported change of +0.31%. However, China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange are closed for National Day. These figures should be treated as reference levels rather than active Friday morning price movements.

Currency Indexes Decline as Regional Markets Split

Currency benchmarks are moving lower. The Australian Dollar Index falls 0.29% to 69.30, while the Japanese Yen Index declines 0.45% to 63.25. The yen benchmark records the larger percentage loss of the two.

The divergence between equities and currencies is particularly visible in Australia, where the S&P/ASX 200 rises while the Australian Dollar Index declines. In Japan, both the Nikkei 225 and Japanese Yen Index move lower. These different patterns show why equity and currency performance need to be assessed separately when evaluating regional market conditions.

The holiday calendar also affects the wider regional picture. In addition to the closures in mainland China and India, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange is observing the eve of Simchat Torah. These holidays reduce the availability of live trading signals from several markets and should be considered when comparing reported index levels.

Outlook: Major Asian Indexes Remain in Focus

Investors will watch whether Japan’s Nikkei 225 continues to weaken and whether Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index can maintain their gains as the Friday session progresses. The S&P BSE SENSEX at 71,909.70, the Hang Seng at 24,613.27 and the SSE Composite Index at 3,842.19 also remain important reference points, although the holiday schedules in India and China limit direct comparisons with actively traded markets. Currency movements will provide additional context, particularly the Japanese Yen Index at 63.25 and Australian Dollar Index at 69.30. With regional performance divided, the next clearer assessment of market breadth will depend on developments in open markets and the resumption of trading following the holidays.