Asia-Pacific stock markets opened sharply higher this Wednesday, following Wall Street's positive performance after the release of lower-than-expected inflation in the United States. The move increased appetite for risk assets and mainly benefited companies linked to the semiconductor sector.
The main highlight was South Korea. The Kospi index began trading with a 6,3% gain, while the Kosdaq, which includes smaller-cap companies, posted a 4% rise. The performance was driven by shares of tech giants SK Hynix and Samsung, which advanced more than 10% and about 6%, respectively.
The sharp appreciation led the South Korean stock exchange to trigger a protection mechanism known as a "buyside sidecar." The measure was adopted after Kospi 200 index futures rose 5%, suspending automated buy trading for five minutes to reduce excessive fluctuations during the session.
The performance of chip companies gained momentum after investors reacted positively to United States inflation data. The weaker reading for the consumer price index in June increased expectations of a less restrictive monetary policy by the Federal Reserve in the coming months.
In Japan, positive sentiment also prevailed. The Nikkei 225 index posted an approximately 0,9% gain, the same percentage seen for the Topix. Before the official open, futures contracts were already indicating a favorable session, trading above the previous close of the Japanese market.
Hang Seng index futures in Hong Kong also pointed to gains. Trading indicated an opening above the close of the previous session, reinforcing the positive movement seen across much of Asian stock markets.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index advanced about 0,6%, following the recovery in global markets. Local futures contracts had also already signaled a positive session before the official open.
Despite the optimism driven by the technology sector, investors continue to closely monitor developments in the Middle East. New airstrikes carried out by the United States military against targets in Iran contributed to higher oil prices, while the current U.S. president, Donald Trump, abandoned the plan that called for charging a 20% protection fee for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. These factors remain among the main elements monitored by global markets throughout the session.