Asian Shares Are Mixed After Gains on Wall Street, While Oil Prices Climb

Stock markets in Asia had a mixed start to the week on Monday. Some countries saw prices go up, while others saw them fall. This came after stocks on Wall Street in the United States finished last week with gains, and as rising oil prices added new concerns for investors around the world.

Japan had the biggest gains in the region. The Nikkei 225, Japan's main stock index, jumped 2% to reach 66,890.02. Technology companies led the way, with Tokyo Electron — a company that makes computer chip equipment — climbing 3.5%, and Advantest — a maker of chip testing devices — rising 4.9%.

South Korea's results were smaller. Its main index, the Kospi, added 0.8%. However, some big tech companies there actually lost value. Samsung Electronics dropped 0.9%, and memory chipmaker SK Hynix fell 1.3%. Analysts said foreign investors were selling shares in big tech companies to lock in profits and move money into other industries, like defense.

Other Asian markets were also mixed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.6%, while China's Shanghai Composite index barely moved. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.4%. Taiwan's Taiex surged 1.8%, and India's Sensex edged up just 0.1%.

Oil prices climbed for several reasons tied to events in the Middle East. Israel rejected a peace deal for Gaza that U.S. President Donald Trump had announced. News also came out about a possible deal between Iran and Oman over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil shipping. Iran suggested that ships from 'hostile countries' could be blocked from passing through.

More trouble in the Middle East added to worries. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, attacked a port on Yemen's Red Sea coast. This deepened fears about threats to important shipping routes and the chance of a return to civil war in Yemen. Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 0.6% to $84.04 per barrel, while U.S. crude climbed 0.5% to $78.58 per barrel.

Back in the United States, stocks rose on Friday after a surprising jobs report. The government said employers cut 23,000 jobs last month, which was unexpected. Because fewer people are working, investors hoped the Federal Reserve — the country's central bank — might hold off on raising interest rates, which are already high.

Lower interest rates are good for stocks because they make it easier and cheaper for businesses to borrow money and grow. This hope pushed every major U.S. stock index up for a second week in a row. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to a new all-time high of 7,757.64, the Dow Jones rose 0.3% to 54,036.93, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.3% to 26,690.62.

Still, the jobs report raised some worries too. It also included updates showing that 103,000 fewer jobs were added in May and June than first reported. Fewer jobs mean people may spend less money, which can hurt the economy. High inflation is already making it hard for many families to afford everyday items.

Technology stocks were again among the biggest winners on Wall Street. Nvidia jumped 2.3% and Broadcom rose 1.7%. These companies make powerful computer chips used in everything from smartphones to artificial intelligence systems, and investors continue to bet on their growth.

Interest rates on U.S. government bonds, called Treasury yields, also fell slightly on Friday. The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped to 4.64%, while the 2-year Treasury fell to 4.20%. Lower yields can be a sign that investors expect the Federal Reserve to slow down its rate increases. This week, investors will be watching a key report called the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, which measures how much prices are rising for everyday shoppers. Inflation in July is expected to come in at 3.4%, just a little lower than June's 3.5%.