Asian equities rise on yield cuts and stable oil prices

Asian equity indices advanced on Tuesday, buoyed by a retreat in long-term bond yields and a lack of major geopolitical or economic disruptions in energy markets. The region’s performance reflected a mix of central bank policy shifts and relative stability in commodity prices, though some submarkets lagged behind broader gains. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose by 0.2%, while the broader TOPIX index narrowed its gains to 0.6%, after earlier advances. South Korea’s KOSPI also climbed modestly by 0.5%, though earlier gains were pared, while China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indices added 0.3% to their sessions. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.2%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index settled flat after wiping out earlier gains of nearly 1%. India’s Nifty 50 index advanced 0.2%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 closed up 0.4%, though exports fell 3.3% month-over-month in July, reflecting weaker global demand for raw materials. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Corp shares surged nearly 4%, contributing to broader gains in Japan’s corporate sector.