Asian Markets Mostly Lower as Wall Street Decline Impacts Region

Morning Trade Shows Mixed Performance

Asian markets were predominantly lower in morning trade on December 16, 2025, following Wall Street's decline as investors continued to rotate out of AI-related trades. The Nikkei 225 index fell 1% to 49,668.77, while the Hang Seng index opened 0.32% lower at 25,547.92. The Taiex index declined 0.62% to 27,693.77, and the Kospi dropped 1.27% to 4,038.81. In contrast, the ASX 200 managed a slight 0.08% gain to 8,641.6. Other regional indices showed mixed movements: the FTSE Straits Times rose 0.17% to 4,597.03, while the FTSE Malay KLCI fell 0.13% to 1,641.58.

Market Sentiment and Factors

The overall negative sentiment in Asian markets was largely influenced by the previous night's decline on Wall Street. Investors continue to adjust their positions amid the ongoing rotation out of AI-related stocks, affecting market performance across the region. Despite some indices showing minor gains, the broader trend remained negative as investors reacted to global market developments.