Asia’s major equity markets closed the first session of September divided between gains and losses, as bond markets commanded investor attention with yields across the region hitting multi-year highs. On its stock market debut, shares in Shein — one of the world’s largest clothing retailers — plunged nearly 10% at one point on Tuesday.
The MSCI Asia Pacific benchmark recorded gains of 0.41%, reversing the pessimism seen at the open. European futures pointed to a negative opening, with the Euro Stoxx 50 sliding 0.18%.
Investors are demanding an ever-larger premium to hold government bonds against a backdrop of years of elevated public spending, persistent inflation, and a considerable increase in debt tied to artificial intelligence companies. In this environment, Japan’s 10-year bond yield — the benchmark maturity — touched 3% for the first time since 1996, while Australia’s equivalent yield reached its highest level since 2011.
“The bond market is not collapsing, but it is sending a very clear message that more persistent inflation means higher interest rates for longer, as an absolute minimum,” Prashant Newnaha, senior Asia-Pacific rates strategist at TD Securities, told Bloomberg.
“I expect the market to continue to see heavy selling; fiscal deterioration and rising term premiums should continue to be the main concerns,” the strategist added. The move is also being driven by rising expectations of an interest rate increase by the US Federal Reserve, after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh delivered a hawkish message to markets during his speech at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole symposium.
Among the key market movers, MediaTek surged 9.94% after Nvidia revealed it would invest US$3.5 billion in the Taiwanese chipmaker. Shein, meanwhile, ended its market debut down 2.39%, recovering a portion of its losses after having fallen nearly 10% during the session.
Across the major indices, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and the Shanghai Composite fell 0.72% and 0.05% respectively. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed the session flat, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.19% and Australia’s ASX declined 0.10%.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/01/mercados/asia-divide-se-entre-ganhos-e-perdas-juros-da-divida-japonesa-atingem-maximos-de-tres-decadas/
