Asian stocks rise as U.S. inflation cools

Asian equities traded mostly higher in early deals on August 13, 2026, as investors reacted to the latest U.S. inflation data and gains on Wall Street. The region’s moves were led by Japan and South Korea, while other major markets showed more modest or mixed performances.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 (NKY) jumped 1.6% in early trading to 68,609.92. South Korea’s Kospi posted an even stronger move, surging 3.9% to 6,835.55, underscoring robust risk appetite in that market.

Elsewhere in the region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index (HSI) edged up nearly 0.1% to 25,453.45, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.4% to 3,961.82. In contrast, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 (AUS200) slipped 0.6% to 9,155.80, highlighting that the regional upswing was not uniform across all markets.

The positive start in Asia followed a constructive session for U.S. equities. On August 13, 2026, the S&P 500 (SPX) added about 0.3% and the Nasdaq composite climbed about 0.5%, with gains supported in part by continued strength in AI-related and semiconductor stocks.

These advances brought U.S. benchmarks close to record levels, reinforcing global risk sentiment. The performance of technology-linked shares remained an important driver, feeding through to Asian markets with significant exposure to the sector.

A key catalyst for both U.S. and Asian markets was the latest U.S. consumer price data for July. The update was described as slightly less bad, signaling a moderation in inflation pressures compared with some investors’ expectations.

Following the report, traders scaled back bets that the Federal Reserve would raise its main policy interest rate at its September meeting. This reduction in anticipated tightening gave the Fed more leeway to hold off on rate hikes and supported demand for riskier assets such as equities.

The combination of easing inflation concerns and resilient equity performance helped bolster sentiment across the Asia-Pacific region. Markets are now positioned with a more favorable backdrop for risk-taking, while remaining sensitive to upcoming economic data and central bank signals.