Asian stock markets were mixed today, with Singapore and Hong Kong seeing modest gains, while shifting US rate cut expectations influenced investor sentiment. Regional trade data was mixed.
On February 2, 2026, major Asian stock markets displayed mixed performances today. Singapore's Straits Times Index edged up 0.2%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index saw a marginal gain of 0.1%. However, Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's KOSPI recorded slight declines. This divergent trend was primarily influenced by investors' re-evaluation of the US Federal Reserve's future interest rate cut trajectory. Recent strong US economic data has tempered market expectations for an early Fed rate cut. Furthermore, regional trade data and geopolitical tensions also had some impact on market sentiment. Analysts noted that in the absence of clear direction, investors generally adopted a wait-and-see approach, awaiting more global economic signals.
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