World markets mixed, Japan's shares dip after election leaves Ishiba's future in doubt
In Asian trading, Japan's benchmark surged and then fell back as it reopened from a holiday Monday following the ruling coalition's loss of its upper house majority in Sunday's election. The Nikkei 225 shed 0.1% to 39,774.92. Analysts said the market initially climbed as investors were relieved that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to stay in office despite the setback
. But the election's outcome has added to political uncertainty and left his government without the heft needed to push through legislation. A breakthrough in trade talks with the US might win Ishiba a reprieve, but so far there's been scant sign of progress in negotiating away the threat of higher tariffs on Japan's exports to the US beginning Aug 1.
"Relief may be fleeting. Ishiba's claim to leadership now rests on political duct tape, and history isn't on his side. The last three LDP leaders who lost the upper house didn't last two months,' Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4% to 25,082.78, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.6% to 3,581.86.
South Korea's Kospi sank 1.3% to 3,169.94, with investors concerned over the Aug. 1 deadline for making a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump or facing 25% tariffs on all the country's exports to the US. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.1% to 8,677.20.
India's Sensex gained 0.1%, while In Thailand, the SET sank 1.1% after the government named Vitai Ratanakorn as the new future governor of the central bank. He is viewed as likely to be less independent than the current governor, raising concerns about the bank's independence, analysts said. Vitai will replace Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, when his term as governor ends in September.
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