Market Overview

Most Asian equity markets posted gains on Monday, with technology stocks leading the rally as investors positioned ahead of Apple’s upcoming earnings release. U.S. stock futures were also higher by 04:03 GMT, providing modest relief after a sharp sell‑off on Wall Street the previous week.

Key Equity Movements

  • The Australian S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.58%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 trimmed early losses to finish 0.17% higher and the broader TOPIX index fell 0.68%.
  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.69% and its Hang Seng TECH sub‑index surged 3.02%.
  • South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 2.66%, driven by a 5.36% rise in SK Hynix (KS:000660) and a 3.00% increase in Samsung Electronics (KS:005930).
  • India’s Nifty 50 advanced 1.15%.
  • Singapore’s Straits Times Index declined 1.31%.
  • China’s CSI 300 climbed 0.91% and the Shanghai Composite index rose 1.10%.
  • Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) plunged 28.58% after issuing a disappointing profit outlook, raising concerns for semiconductor and AI‑related firms.
  • Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares were down 1.23% ahead of the earnings announcement.
  • Commodity‑related tickers showed mixed moves: LCO fell 3.08%, CL dropped 3.42%, while a miscellaneous index labeled MWCLc1 rose 2.08% and another LCO‑related index jumped 100%.

Apple Earnings Anticipation

Investors awaited Apple’s quarterly results later on Monday, looking for guidance on whether consumer demand could offset the heavy spending on artificial‑intelligence infrastructure. The market also expected commentary on early demand for the iPhone 18 series, for which pre‑orders began in mid‑October.

Semiconductor Sector Pressure

Intel’s near‑29% slide underscored heightened sensitivity to profit forecasts in the semiconductor space, especially as AI‑related capital expenditures remain a focal point for investors.

Oil Prices

Brent crude futures eased 2% to $111.15 per barrel, while U.S. crude (WTI) fell 2.3% to $101.73 per barrel, providing some support to equity markets amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate the U.S.–Israeli conflict over Iran.

Australian Monetary Policy Outlook

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is widely expected to raise its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.85% on Tuesday, marking the fifth increase this year after a September hike to 4.60%. The rate‑rise outlook has hardened following data showing Australian consumer‑price inflation accelerating to 4.3% in September from 4.0% in August. RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser warned that the inflation outlook looks materially worse than previously projected, and Governor Michele Bullock noted that some upside risks have materialised.