Asian equities are trading mostly higher on Monday morning, September 21, with four of the six major equity benchmarks in the supplied data advancing. Japan leads the regional gains as the Nikkei 225 moves above 65,000, while China and South Korea also post gains of close to 1%. The regional picture remains mixed at the country level, however, as the S&P BSE SENSEX and S&P/ASX 200 trade marginally lower.

Japan Leads as Nikkei Moves Above 65,000

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is the strongest-performing major Asian equity index in the morning session, rising 1.38% to 65,018.95. The move takes the benchmark above the 65,000 level and places Japan at the forefront of Monday’s regional gains.

The Japanese Yen Index is moving in the opposite direction, declining 0.56% to 63.75. The combination of a stronger Nikkei 225 and a weaker Yen Index is a notable feature of the session, particularly for investors monitoring the interaction between Japanese equities and currency markets.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange is observing Respect for the Aged Day on Monday. The holiday is an important part of today’s regional trading calendar and should be considered when assessing Japanese market activity.

China and South Korea Post Strong Gains

The SSE Composite Index is also showing strong momentum, rising 0.94% to 3,911.87. The Chinese benchmark has moved back above the 3,900 level and records the second-largest gain among the major Asian equity indexes in the supplied data.

South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index is gaining 0.89% to 6,955.50. The benchmark is approaching the 7,000 level, with its advance adding to the stronger performance across the major Northeast Asian equity markets.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is higher by 0.15% at 24,750.78. The gain is considerably smaller than the advances in Japan, China and South Korea, but the index remains in positive territory and continues to trade below 25,000.

The combined performance of the Nikkei 225, SSE Composite Index, KOSPI Composite Index and Hang Seng means that four of the six major equity benchmarks are higher during the current morning session.

India and Australia Lag as Currency Markets Diverge

The S&P BSE SENSEX is down 0.06% at 74,294.96, registering only a marginal decline. The move leaves the Indian benchmark broadly stable, but it remains one of two major equity indexes trading lower.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 is also declining, falling 0.25% to 8,709.20. The benchmark remains below the 8,800 level and is moving against the broader gains recorded in Japan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Currency markets are also showing divergent performance. The Australian Dollar Index is rising 0.18% to 71.25, while the Japanese Yen Index is falling 0.56% to 63.75. The different directions of the two currency benchmarks add to the varied picture across regional assets.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange is observing Yom Kippur on Monday and is therefore not conducting regular trading. For Israeli investors, the absence of a TASE session is an important consideration when comparing the performance of Asian markets with the local market.

Outlook: Watching Key Levels and Regional Momentum

Investors will be watching whether the Nikkei 225 can maintain its position above 65,000 and whether the KOSPI Composite Index can approach the 7,000 level in subsequent sessions. The SSE Composite Index has moved above 3,900, while the Hang Seng remains below 25,000 and the S&P/ASX 200 remains below 8,800. The S&P BSE SENSEX will also be monitored after its marginal decline. Currency movements remain another important factor, with the Japanese Yen Index lower at 63.75 and the Australian Dollar Index higher at 71.25. With the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Tel Aviv Stock Exchange observing holidays, investors will be watching whether the strength in Japan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong can broaden across the region when regular trading activity resumes.