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Asia-Pacific Markets Brace for Muted Start as Tech Stocks Decline
20 Aug
Summary
- S&P 500 sees four-day losing streak led by tech stock declines
- Investors await India's HSBC Composite PMI data for August
- Japan's Nikkei 225 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 set to open lower
As of August 21, 2025, the Asia-Pacific markets are poised for a subdued start to the trading day, as investors grapple with the recent four-day losing streak in the S&P 500, led by declines in the technology sector.
Across the region, investors are eagerly awaiting the release of India's HSBC Composite flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) reading for August. This economic indicator will provide an early glimpse into the performance of the country's private sector economy. According to a Reuters poll, economists expect the PMI to come in at 60.5, slightly lower than the previous month's figure of 61.1.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index is set to open flat, with the futures contract in Chicago trading at 42,880, while its counterpart in Osaka last changed hands at 42,820, compared to the index's previous close of 42,888.55. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 is poised to start the day lower, with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,902, against the index's last close of 8,918.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is also expected to open flat, with futures linked to the index at 25,168, close to the HSI's previous close of 25,165.94.
