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Daily Summary

Asia & Pacific Edition

October 31, 2026 at 5:30 AM ET

Markets Recap for October 30, 2026

Nikkei Drops 2.12% as BOJ Holds Rates Steady

What's in the markets today?

The Bank of Japan announced its decision to keep the policy rate unchanged at 1.25%, reinforcing the central bank’s cautious approach even as domestic price pressures continue. Tokyo’s October Consumer Price Index rose to 2.8% year over year, providing further evidence that inflation remains well above pre-pandemic levels in Japan’s largest city. Japanese equities reacted sharply to these developments, with the Nikkei 225 falling 2.12%, as investors reassessed monetary policy risks and future rate hike probabilities in light of persistent inflation data. In earnings news, major corporations including Mitsubishi Electric, HOYA Corporation, and Murata Manufacturing each reported financial results, offering markets fresh data on industrial and technology sector profitability. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 1.46%, driven by gains in energy and technology stocks, highlighting contrasting performance across Asia’s major markets as economic signals diverge.

Benchmark Moves

The Nikkei 225 dropped 2.12% to 63,289.9 after Japan's central bank left its policy unchanged despite Tokyo CPI rising 2.8% year-on-year. This decision kept borrowing costs steady even as inflation moved up, narrowing the gap between inflation and rates. At the same time, gold fell 3.29% to 3,898.9, likely reflecting stronger expectations for higher real rates or reduced demand for safe-haven assets in the region. This combination signals that unchanged monetary policy amid rising prices is driving repricing across assets.

Nikkei 225
N225
Nikkei 225
63,289.89
-1,369.36-2.12%
TOPIX
TOPX
TOPIX
3,965.07
-38.21-0.95%
Hang Seng Index
HSI
Hang Seng Index
23,294.42
+335.77+1.46%
CSI 300
CSI300
CSI 300
3,985.50
-56.34-1.39%
KOSPI
KS11
KOSPI
5,730.74
-206.92-3.48%

Market data as of Oct 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET.

Toyota
TM
Toyota
195.71
-0.92-0.47%
Alibaba
BABA
Alibaba
98.04
-1.50-1.51%
Sony
SONY
Sony
25.30
-0.17-0.67%
Samsung Electronics
005930.KS
Samsung Electronics
225,000.00
-7,000.00-3.02%
Tencent
TCEHY
Tencent
49.04
+0.40+0.82%

Market data as of Oct 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET.

Commodities & Crypto

Detailed View →
Gold
GC
Gold
3,898.90
-132.50-3.29%
Silver
SI
Silver
49.28
-3.10-5.93%
WTI Crude Oil
CL
WTI Crude Oil
104.12
+2.12+2.08%
Natural Gas
NG
Natural Gas
2.90
-0.05-1.83%
Bitcoin
BTCUSDT
Bitcoin
77,384.14
+15.37+0.02%

Market data as of Oct 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Key Financial Reports

Earnings reports from major companies showed mixed results. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MIELY) reported an EPS of 1.014, indicating solid performance, while Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MIELY) reported an EPS of 1.014, indicating solid performance, while HOYA Corporation (HOCPY) reported an EPS of 1.345.. These results reflect a broader trend of resilience in the technology and manufacturing sectors, despite challenges in the market. Overall, strong earnings from select companies signal potential growth in specific areas of the economy.

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Detailed View →
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
MIELY
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Actual
1.01
Estimate
-
Surprise
-
Previous
-
HOYA Corporation
HOCPY
HOYA Corporation
Actual
1.35
Estimate
-
Surprise
-
Previous
-
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
MRAAY
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Actual
0.18
Estimate
-
Surprise
-
Previous
-
Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.
OTSKY
Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.
Actual
0.64
Estimate
-
Surprise
-
Previous
-
East Japan Railway Company
EJPRY
East Japan Railway Company
Actual
0.23
Estimate
-
Surprise
-
Previous
-

EPS reported on October 30, 2026 ET. Figures use each company's reported basis.

Key Macroeconomic Reports

Japan's economy shows signs of stabilization. Tokyo's Consumer Price Index rose to 2.8% in October, while the unemployment rate fell to 2.4%. This combination indicates ongoing inflation but also a tightening labor market. These trends could prompt the BOJ to reconsider its current interest rate policy.

Macroeconomic Data

Detailed View →
JP
JP | BoJ Interest Rate Decision
23:03
Actual
1.25
Forecast
1.25
Previous
1.25
JP
JP | Tokyo CPI YoY
19:30
Actual
2.80
Forecast
3.30
Previous
2.70
JP
JP | Tokyo CPI ex Food/Energy (YoY)
19:30
Actual
2.40
Forecast
-
Previous
3.00
JP
JP | Tokyo CPI ex Fresh Food (YoY)
19:30
Actual
2.60
Forecast
2.60
Previous
2.70
JP
JP | Unemployment Rate
19:30
Actual
2.40
Forecast
2.50
Previous
2.50

Macroeconomic data released on October 29, 2026 ET.

Top Stories

A quick look at the five stories that shaped today's market sentiment. Explained with brief context highlighting why each story mattered today.

Binance estimates $8.9b hacked in crypto’s biggest heist

Binance, the largest crypto exchange, has suspended all deposits and withdrawals due to a significant hack first estimated at $8.9 billion and since put by the company at about $6.3 billion, with about $3 billion frozen so far. Founder Changpeng Zhao stated that he expects all user funds to be fully covered. This incident is being referred to as the biggest heist in the crypto industry. The exchange is currently investigating the breach and its implications for users.

Source: Australian Financial Review

BOJ holds rates as underlying inflation aligns with 2% target for first time since 2013

The Bank of Japan announced that underlying inflation is now "generally consistent" with its 2% target for the first time since 2013, prompting the central bank to maintain its policy rate at 1.25%. The decision was made with an 8-1 vote, with board member Hajime Takata dissenting in favor of a rate hike to 1.5%. The BOJ raised its inflation forecast for fiscal year 2027 to 2.6% from 2.4%. Economists expect a rate hike in December or January as inflation and wages continue to rise.

Source: CNBC — Asia Pacific

Intel shares sink more than 20% as PC slowdown stretches into 2027

Intel's shares dropped over 20% following the release of its third-quarter results, which included a weaker-than-expected revenue forecast for the fourth quarter, projected between $15 billion and $16 billion. Despite a 21% revenue growth driven by data centers and AI, the company cautioned that the slowdown in the PC market would persist into 2027. This outlook overshadowed the positive revenue growth, leading to significant investor concern.

Source: Nikkei Asia

We asked 12 investors for their best technology pick

The technology sector is at a critical juncture as investors question the return on investment from the substantial spending on artificial intelligence. This uncertainty follows a $US500 billion ($711 billion) loss in market value for Alphabet, the parent company of Google, due to concerns that AI advancements may negatively impact its core advertising business. Investors are closely monitoring how these developments will affect the largest tech companies moving forward.

Source: Australian Financial Review

Leah Weckert’s big gamble just wiped 10pc off Coles’ value

Coles chief executive Leah Weckert's recent strategy has led to a 10% drop in the company's market value. Weckert plans to sacrifice earnings growth in the December half to invest in lower shelf prices, aiming to regain momentum in supermarket sales. This decision comes in response to the successful turnaround achieved by Woolworths under CEO Amanda Bardwell. The market's reaction indicates significant concern over the risks associated with this new direction.

Source: Australian Financial Review

Other Headlines

Australian Financial ReviewOct 29, 2026

Coles shares dive after supermarket giant warns on sales, profit

FT Asia PacificOct 30, 2026

Bank of Japan says 2% inflation goal reached after decades of deflation

Australian Financial ReviewOct 30, 2026

Could the hiking cycle be coming to an end?

Nikkei AsiaOct 29, 2026

Toyota, Honda, Nissan slash China output as gasoline car market shrinks

Australian Financial ReviewOct 29, 2026

Why investors are looking at private markets – and infrastructure

FT Asia PacificOct 30, 2026

Private equity firm swoops on China Evergrande unit in rare win for creditors

Nikkei AsiaOct 29, 2026

Operator of South Korea's Toss app to buy online Japanese brokerage Cheer

Australian Financial ReviewOct 30, 2026

Uneasy bedfellows Albanese and Chalmers need a budget fix

FT Asia PacificOct 29, 2026

Xi elevates general who led purge of China’s military

Nikkei AsiaOct 29, 2026

Vietnam to overtake Indonesia in per capita GDP in 2026: IMF

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