Shares in Asia were mostly higher on Friday, with major markets showing modest gains, except for Shanghai and Taiwan. U.S. futures and oil prices also rose, following a mixed day on Wall Street where general stocks and other previously struggling sectors saw gains, while Big Tech stocks experienced losses.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.5% after early gains, while Tokyo's core consumer price index rose 2.2% in July, signaling potential interest rate adjustments by the Bank of Japan. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged higher, while the Shanghai Composite index dipped slightly. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 and Seoul's Kospi both posted gains, but Taiwan's Taiex fell sharply after reopening following a typhoon-induced closure.
