Asian Markets Mixed Ahead of US Labor Day

Asian markets showed mixed results as investors closely monitored developments ahead of the US Labor Day holiday and the upcoming employment report. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.4%, buoyed by a 7.4% increase in capital spending by Japanese companies in Q2, signaling potential economic recovery. In contrast, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3%, while China's manufacturing sector raised concerns with PMI data dropping from 49.4 to 49.1, indicating contraction. South Korea's Kospi saw slight gains, whereas Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined by 1.3%. In the US, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average recently hit all-time highs, supported by positive economic indicators, including consumer spending and inflation data. Overall, market sentiment remains cautious amid mixed economic signals from Asia and anticipation of the US labor market report.