Asia Market Quick Take – 17 August, 2026

• Asian stock markets declined following a period of strong growth in September. • U.S. core PCE, a measure of inflation that excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2% month-on-month in August.

• Indian stock markets are expected to open lower on October 1, 2026, as foreign fund outflows put downward pressure on the Sensex and Nifty 50. • A US subsidiary plans to acquire an additional 2.57% stake in Welspun Mauritius by March 31, 2027.

• A court sentenced the mastermind behind a stock manipulation scheme involving Young Poong Paper to 15 years in prison. • The scheme resulted in 790 billion won in gains, marking it as the largest single-stock manipulation case.

• Several major companies including Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, and Infosys are expected to be in focus for investors during today's trading session. • The GIFT Nifty indicated a weak start for the benchmark Nifty 50 index, trading 82 points or 0.36 percent lower at 22,577 as of 9:50 AM.

• Foreign portfolio investors have sold more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore in assets, causing shares of major companies like HDFC Bank, Infosys, and ITC to drop. • HDFC Bank shares fell 27 per cent this year, impacting a foreign stake that was valued at Rs 4.66 lakh crore at the end of the June quarter.

• U.S. stock indexes rose Wednesday following an encouraging update on inflation. • The S&P 500 increased by 0.5% during the session.

• Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey stated that Indian markets remain resilient despite current global economic pressures. • Pandey cited a strong macroeconomic foundation as the reason for this stability amid elevated oil prices and bond yields.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,559.01 points on September 30, 2026. • The index decreased by 35.29 points, or 2.21%, with a total trading value of THB 121 billion.

• China's factory gauge crossed the fifty mark on September 30, 2026, indicating a shift toward expansion in the manufacturing sector. • The index crossing fifty serves as a critical threshold that separates economic contraction from growth.

• Analysts report that investors are balancing a positive economic and earnings outlook against rising macroeconomic risks for the fourth quarter. • Key pressures include elevated bond yields, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty surrounding monetary policy and politics.

• Indian equities declined for a third consecutive session on Wednesday, with the Sensex losing 49 points and the Nifty falling 96 points. • Rising bond yields weighed on investor sentiment, though broader markets managed to post gains.