Shafaqna English- Asian stock markets posted solid gains on Thursday(13 Aug 2026), primarily driven by the release of U.S. inflation data that aligned precisely with consensus estimates, leading investors to largely abandon any expectations of near-term Fed rate hikes.
Concurrently, oil prices have remained volatile within the $80 range, as the United States and Iran have failed to reach any diplomatic breakthrough concerning the cessation of hostilities in the Persian Gulf region, leaving the political stalemate firmly intact.
The broad-based MSCI index for Asia-Pacific equities excluding Japan climbed by 0.97%, with South Korean shares emerging as the primary driver of this advance after posting a remarkable 4.4% surge. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index also moved higher by 1.86%, while U.S. S&P 500 E-mini futures recorded a modest uptick of 0.02%.