Investing.com - Share markets across the Asian Pacific are predicted to open lower on Monday following a negative performance on Wall Street last week, as market participants closely monitor tensions in the Middle East.
By 10:00 am AEDT (11:00 pm GMT) S&P/ASX 200 was down 64 points or 0.9% to 6762.9.
The US stock market experienced a significant pullback this autumn, with the S&P 500 entering a correction phase and recording its worst two-week decline of the year. The broad market index fluctuated throughout the day before closing 0.5% lower, marking a more than 10% drop from its recent peak. This decline was partly due to a slump in Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM), which contributed to a 367 point or 1.1% drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. This marked its lowest closing level since March.
The NASDAQ Composite managed a marginal 0.4% gain, although it ended far below its session highs. The tech-heavy index entered a correction phase earlier in the week and has seen three consecutive weeks of decline.
October has seen a gloomy market sentiment as investors navigate through a wave of earnings results from some of America's largest companies amidst a severe bond sell-off. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note exceeded 5% for the first time in 16 years early Monday, holding investors' attention throughout the week. It settled at 4.846% on Friday.
This rapid rise in bond yields has sparked volatility across markets, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average poised to conclude October with three straight months of losses - the worst such stretch since March 2020.
In the commodities market, Brent crude oil fell 1.1%, while gold slipped 0.2%.
Chinese shares closed higher, led by pharmaceutical and consumer-services stocks. Encouraging data showing that the country's industrial profits grew for a second consecutive month in September likely boosted sentiment, indicating signs of a stabilizing economy amid increased policy support.
Hong Kong shares also closed higher, primarily driven by property and tech stocks. The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 2.1% with the Hang Seng Tech Index adding 2.5%. China Evergrande (HK:3333) and Shimao Group were among the top gainers, rising 6.3% and 5.45%, respectively.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.3% to close at 30991.69 as gains in U.S. stock-index futures likely led to improved risk appetite. India's benchmark Sensex rose 1.0% to close at 63782.80, tracking gains across most regional equity markets.
European stocks traded mixed ahead of an expected slightly lower open on Wall Street, though Asia closed in positive territory. The STOXX 600 fell 0.2% and the CAC 40 dropped 0.8%, though the DAX advanced 0.3%. The FTSE 100 closed down 0.9%.