Asia-Pacific Markets Mostly Rise After South Korea’s Inflation Rate Hits 42-Month Low

Asia-Pacific markets mostly climbed on Tuesday as investors assess South Korea’s August inflation numbers, which eased to its lowest level on a year-on-year basis since March 2021.

The country’s consumer price index recorded a 2% rise year on year, coming down from July’s 2.6% and in line with expectations from a Reuters poll of economists.

On a month-on-month basis, the CPI rose 0.4%, slightly higher than the 0.3% expected from the Reuters poll.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was 0.24% up in early trade, while the Topix was 0.6% higher.

South Korea’s Kospi was 0.11% higher, and the small cap Kosdaq inched up 0.01%.

In contrast, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.11%.

Mainland China’s CSI 300 also fell marginally, extending losses from a seven-month low on Monday.

Hong Kong Hang Seng index slipped 0.12%.