Asian Stocks Rise as Weak US Jobs Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Bets

Asian stocks mostly advanced on Monday, following record highs on Wall Street as weaker-than-expected U.S. employment data reduced expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in September.

Japan and South Korea led gains across the region, supported by a recovery in semiconductor shares. Meanwhile, rising oil prices and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz kept investors cautious.

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 ended Friday at record levels after U.S. employers unexpectedly cut jobs in July, while employment figures for the previous two months were revised lower. The weak labor market data pushed expectations for a September Fed rate hike down to around 43%-44%, compared with roughly 64%-67% a week earlier. Nasdaq 100 futures gained about 0.2% during Asian trading, while S&P 500 futures were broadly flat.

Japan's Nikkei 225 surged nearly 2%, while the TOPIX added around 0.8%. Semiconductor and technology stocks supported the rally, with Kioxia, TDK and Sony posting gains.

South Korea's KOSPI rose about 0.4% after climbing more than 2% earlier. SK Hynix advanced over 1.5%, while Samsung Electronics gained approximately 0.4%. The rebound followed recent pressure on Asian chipmakers amid concerns about elevated valuations and the sustainability of the AI-driven semiconductor rally.

Chinese markets delivered mixed results. The CSI 300 edged lower, while the Shanghai Composite gained around 0.5%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose about 0.5%. Alibaba climbed more than 2%, although Cambricon Technologies fell more than 5%.

Australia's ASX 200 declined roughly 0.5%, but lithium stocks outperformed. European Lithium rose nearly 6%, while Global Lithium Resources gained more than 5%. Treasury Wine Estates jumped over 4% following plans to restructure its U.S. operations.

Oil prices also moved higher as investors monitored negotiations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said discussions with Oman over new shipping lanes were nearing completion but indicated additional U.S. conditions must be met before reopening.

Attention now turns to Wednesday's U.S. inflation report. Stronger-than-expected July CPI data could revive expectations for a September Fed rate hike and influence global stock markets.