Asian Markets Show Mixed Performance Ahead of Economic Data

Asian markets exhibited mixed performances as investors await significant U.S. economic reports, including inflation and retail sales data. Japan's Nikkei 225 rebounded strongly by 2.2%, recovering from last week's drop, driven by technology stocks. Meanwhile, China's Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng faced challenges due to weak bank lending data and concerns over the Chinese economy, with the former dipping slightly. South Korea's Kospi saw an increase of 1.1%, buoyed by gains in major tech firms like Samsung. Overall, while some markets showed resilience, ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties continue to weigh on investor sentiment across the region.