Asia-Pacific markets open week mixed amid Iran talks uncertainty

0 min read | Published on 28 Sept 2026, 06:04 AM |Updated on 28 Sept 2026, 06:04 AM

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Shraddha JScanX News Team

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Key Highlights

Asia-Pacific markets opened the week mixed amid geopolitical uncertainty over Iran talks
Nikkei 225 rose 0.81%, leading regional gains among the benchmarks tracked
ASX 200 edged up 0.11%, while KOSPI declined 0.56%
Trump rejected an Iran proposal but signaled renewed talks remain possible

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.

Asia-Pacific markets opened the week on a cautious, mixed note as Trump rejected an Iran proposal while signaling renewed talks, keeping investors on edge across the region.

Market performance at a glance

The divergence across regional indices reflected the uncertain geopolitical backdrop. While Japan and Australia edged higher, South Korea's market slipped into negative territory. The table below captures the opening moves across key Asia-Pacific benchmarks.

Index	Change (%)
ASX 200	+0.11%
Nikkei 225	+0.81%
KOSPI	-0.56%

Geopolitical backdrop drives cautious sentiment

The mixed market open came as Trump rejected an Iran proposal but simultaneously signaled that renewed talks remained on the table. This combination of rejection and openness introduced a degree of uncertainty that appeared to weigh on investor sentiment across the region, contributing to the divergent performance seen among Asia-Pacific indices.

The Nikkei 225 posted the strongest gain among the three benchmarks, rising 0.81%, while Australia's ASX 200 managed a modest advance of 0.11%. South Korea's KOSPI bucked the trend, declining 0.56% as the week's trading commenced.

Disclaimer: This article is AI-generated using data from LiveSquawk. ScanX is not liable for any inaccuracies.

How might a breakdown in US-Iran negotiations impact oil prices and energy-dependent Asian economies?

What specific sectors in South Korea are most vulnerable to geopolitical risk aversion compared to Japan's export-driven market?

Will the divergence between the Nikkei and KOSPI persist if Trump's diplomatic signals remain inconsistent throughout the week?

Asia-Pacific markets trade cautiously ahead of Trump-Xi summit, KOSPI gains 0.96%

0 min read | Published on 18 Sept 2026, 06:28 AM |Updated on 21 Sept 2026, 05:47 AM

Reviewed by

Shriram SScanX News Team

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Key Highlights

KOSPI leads regional gains with a +0.96% rise amid cautious sentiment
ASX 200 falls 0.22% as traders await key US meetings including Trump-Xi summit
Japanese market closures through Wednesday keep regional trading conditions thinner

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.

Asia-Pacific markets opened on a cautious note as investors awaited key US meetings this week, including the Trump-Xi summit. South Korea's KOSPI led regional gains at +0.96%, while Australia's ASX 200 fell -0.22%.

Regional market performance

The broader Asia-Pacific region saw mixed momentum across major indices. Trading conditions remained thinner due to Japanese market closures through Wednesday.

The table below summarises the opening performance across the key Asia-Pacific indices:

Index	Market	Change (%)
ASX 200	Australia	-0.22%
KOSPI	South Korea	+0.96%

The session's cautious tone was driven by anticipation of geopolitical developments and reduced liquidity from Japanese market holidays.

Disclaimer: This article is AI-generated using data from LiveSquawk. ScanX is not liable for any inaccuracies.

How might the outcomes of the Trump-Xi summit specifically impact semiconductor and tech supply chains in South Korea, influencing the KOSPI's sustained performance?

What are the expected ripple effects on Australian commodity exports if the cautious tone in Asia persists into the US trading session?

How will the resumption of Japanese trading on Thursday affect regional liquidity and volatility across the Asia-Pacific indices?