Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 0.94%, Shanghai Composite down 1.26%, Hang Seng up 0.52% ASX up 0.33%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,972.79 (-0.83%) Silver at $75.285 (-1.67%), Brent Oil at $68.39 (-0.37%), WTI Oil at $63.40 (-0.24%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.026, UK 10-year yield at 4.4020, Germany 10-year yield at 2.7556
News & Data:
- (CAD) Manufacturing Sales m/m 0.6% to 0.5% expected
Markets Update:
Asian financial markets are trading cautiously on Tuesday, with several major regional markets closed for Lunar New Year holidays and no guidance from Wall Street, which remained shut on Monday for President’s Day. Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea are all closed today, limiting overall trading activity and investor participation across the region.
Australia is a notable exception, with markets trading in positive territory, supported mainly by strong gains in resource stocks. However, technology and real estate shares are weaker, while other sectors show mixed performance. Investors are also responding to corporate earnings releases and reviewing minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest policy meeting. The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 37.50 points, or 0.42%, to 8,974.60, while the broader All Ordinaries Index rose 27.80 points, or 0.3%, to 9,191.60. BHP Group surged over 6.5% after reporting better-than-expected earnings and revenue. JB Hi-Fi jumped 8.5%, and Pro Medicus advanced 7.3%. Qantas Airways, QBE, and Harvey Norman also posted gains.
Meanwhile, Reliance Worldwide and Challenger declined sharply after disappointing earnings. The RBA minutes indicated interest rates were raised due to persistent inflation, though policymakers remain uncertain about the future rate path. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.8%, dragged down by technology and defense stocks, while New Zealand’s NZX 50 also edged modestly lower in cautious trading today.
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The post Tuesday 17th February 2026: Asian Markets Trade Cautiously Amid Holiday Closures and Mixed Economic Signals first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.