Asian markets are trading in a clearly mixed pattern on Monday morning, September 28, with gains in Japan, India and Australia offset by declines in South Korea, mainland China and Hong Kong. The regional picture is evenly divided across the six major equity indexes in the supplied data, while currency benchmarks are both higher, led by a stronger Japanese Yen Index.

Japan Leads Regional Equity Gains

Japan is leading the positive side of the Asian market, with the Nikkei 225 rising 0.84% to 66,924.35. The benchmark is approaching the 67,000 level, making Japan the strongest-performing major equity market in the supplied data.

India is also trading higher. The S&P BSE SENSEX gains 0.43% to 73,895.74, moving back toward the 74,000 level. Although the advance is more modest than the Nikkei’s gain, it keeps India among the three major equity markets showing positive performance in the morning session.

Australia is posting a smaller increase, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.19% at 8,681.40. The move places the Australian benchmark slightly above 8,680 and completes the positive side of the regional equity picture.

China, South Korea and Hong Kong Remain Under Pressure

The weaker side of the market is led by mainland China, where the SSE Composite Index falls 1.22% to 3,888.37. The decline leaves the benchmark below the 3,900 level and represents the largest percentage loss among the six major equity indexes in the supplied data.

South Korea is also lower, with the KOSPI Composite Index declining 1.17% to 6,998.00. The move pushes the benchmark just below the important 7,000 level. Hong Kong is under pressure as well, with the Hang Seng falling 1.01% to 24,510.09.

The distribution is evenly split: three major equity indexes are higher and three are lower. This means the regional data does not support describing Monday’s session as either a broad rally or a broad selloff. Instead, the performance remains differentiated across individual markets.

Yen Strengthens as Currency Benchmarks Rise

Currency markets are moving in the opposite direction to some of the weaker equity benchmarks. The Japanese Yen Index rises 1.05% to 63.57, recording the strongest percentage increase among all the Asian benchmarks supplied for the session. The Australian Dollar Index also advances, gaining 0.14% to 70.25.

The combination of a higher Nikkei 225 and a stronger Yen Index is a notable feature of Monday’s trading. Australia is showing a similar direction across its two benchmarks, with both the S&P/ASX 200 and Australian Dollar Index higher, although the gains remain relatively limited.

Taiwan’s Taiwan Stock Exchange is observing Teacher’s Day on Monday. The holiday means Taiwan is not contributing to the active equity-market performance reflected in the supplied regional data.

Outlook: Watching the 67,000 Level in Japan and 7,000 in South Korea

The next phase of trading will depend on whether the gains in Japan, India and Australia can hold while declines in China, South Korea and Hong Kong stabilize or deepen. Investors should monitor the Nikkei 225 around 67,000, the KOSPI around the 7,000 threshold, the SSE Composite near 3,900 and the Hang Seng around 24,500. The S&P/ASX 200 around 8,680 and S&P BSE SENSEX near 74,000 are also key reference levels, while the 1.05% rise in the Japanese Yen Index makes further currency movement an important factor in assessing the direction of Asian markets.