Asian stock markets presented a mixed performance on Friday, August 15, 2025, as investors digested a combination of economic indicators from the United States and ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning the conflict in Ukraine. The S&P 500 in the U.S. reached a new record high, and European markets also experienced gains.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 0.73% higher at 8,939 points, marking an all-time peak. This rise was primarily fueled by strong performances in the energy and technology sectors, with major mining companies also seeing modest increases. The Reserve Bank of Australia's recent rate cut contributed to the market's upward trend for the week. Japanese markets saw a significant rebound, with the Nikkei 225 Index climbing 1.71% to 43,378.31. This surge was attributed to Japan's second-quarter 2025 GDP data, which showed a 0.3% quarter-on-quarter expansion, exceeding expectations. Capital expenditures also increased by 1.3%. Meanwhile, crude oil prices saw a slight increase, with WTI crude futures up 0.2% to $64.10 per barrel and Brent crude futures up 0.2% to $67.00 a barrel, ahead of crucial talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. President Trump's warning of potential consequences for Russia if it obstructed a peace deal introduced an element of supply concern into the oil market.
European markets reflected a positive sentiment, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index gaining 0.6%. The German DAX and France's CAC 40 both advanced approximately 0.8%, while the UK's FTSE 100 saw a more modest increase of 0.1%. This performance indicated a general rise in investor confidence across major European economies. U.S. data, including a higher-than-expected producer price index, tempered expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts, leading traders to re-evaluate the likelihood of a September rate cut and introducing caution into market sentiment. Despite this, the S&P 500 managed to close at a record high.