Asian stocks edge higher on Wall Street lead; oil holds steady

South Korean shares rally up to 2.1% while Japan's Nikkei slips 0.3%, as investors track US futures and stable energy prices.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-08-04 02:52 UTC · 1 min read

Asian equity markets opened with cautious gains, tracking a positive tone from Wall Street overnight.

The MSCI Asia-Pacific index, excluding Japan, rose 0.1% in early trading, reflecting a broad but tentative risk-on sentiment across the region.

1% higher, providing the underlying momentum for the Asian session's direction.

South Korean equities led the regional advance, rallying as much as 2.1% as investors responded to the upbeat cues from US markets.

In contrast, Japan's Nikkei 225 index faced headwinds, sliding 0.3% despite the broader regional lift.

S&P 500 e-mini futures nudged 0.1% higher, providing the underlying momentum for the Asian session's direction.

Energy markets remained subdued, with Brent crude holding near recent levels.