Asia-Pacific Markets Trade Mixed in Final Trading Week of 2025

Asia-Pacific markets ended mixed on Monday as investors entered the final trading week of 2025, with thin volumes and cautious positioning shaping market movements across the region.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.55%, while the broader Topix index declined 0.26%. In South Korea, markets moved higher, with the Kospi rising 0.62% and the Kosdaq gaining 0.19%.

Hong Kong equities outperformed regional peers, as the Hang Seng Index advanced 0.7%. Mainland China’s CSI 300 was little changed, trading flat during the session.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.21% lower, reflecting subdued risk appetite ahead of year-end.

Meanwhile, precious metals saw heightened volatility. Spot silver prices surged to a fresh record above $80 per ounce before retreating sharply to around $77. Market participants attributed the earlier rally to speculative buying combined with ongoing supply constraints.

Sprott Asset Management noted that silver’s strong performance this year has been driven by a depletion of freely traded inventory, which has amplified price movements amid rising demand. Trevor Yates, senior investment analyst at Global X ETFs, said silver continues to reflect expectations of a more supportive macroeconomic environment in 2026, including lower interest rates and the possibility of a weaker U.S. dollar.

U.S. equity futures were largely flat during early Asian trading hours following a mixed close on Wall Street last Friday. The S&P 500 posted weekly gains after returning from the Christmas holiday, marking its fourth weekly advance in five weeks.

The benchmark index closed marginally lower at 6,929.94, after briefly touching an intraday high of 6,945.77. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.09% to finish at 23,593.10, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 20 points to settle at 48,710.97.

For the week, all three major U.S. indices recorded gains of more than 1%, providing a cautiously optimistic backdrop as global markets head into the final days of the year.