Asia-Pacific markets set to rise as investors look ahead to U.S. Fed chair Powell’s speech
SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 14, 2025 – Tourists are visiting the Bund in Shanghai, China on August 14, 2025.
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Asia-Pacific markets were set to mostly climb Friday as investors look to U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the central bank’s annual economic symposium, which could offer clues into the path of interest rates.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 is set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 42,700 while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 42,640, against the index’s last close of 42,610.17.
Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index stood at 25,192, higher than its last close of 25,104.61.
Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is set to fall with futures standing at 8,971, lower than the index’s close of 9,019.1. The index crossed the 9,000 mark for the first time Thursday.
Overnight stateside, stocks fell broadly Thursday, with the S&P 500 sliding for the fifth day in a row.
The broad-market index shed 0.4% and closed at 6,370.17, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.34% and settled at 21,100.31. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 152.81 points, or 0.34%, ending at 44,785.50.
Fed funds futures are pricing in a nearly 74% likelihood of the central bank cutting rates at its next policy gathering in September, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
— CNBC’s Yun Li and Pia Singh contributed to this report.
