Asia Markets Show Mixed Performance as Investors Evaluate China's RatingDog Manufacturing Figures

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

Source: CNBC

Updated: Aug 31 2025

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Source: CNBC

Market Overview

Asia-Pacific Mixed Trading: The Asia-Pacific markets exhibited mixed results as investors analyzed China's manufacturing data for August. The RatingDog manufacturing index, previously known as the Caixin Purchasing Managers' Index, reported a reading of 50.5, indicating growth compared to a contraction of 49.5 in July. Conversely, the country's manufacturing PMI was slightly lower at 49.4 for August, up from 49.3 the previous month.
China-India Relations: Investors are also monitoring the evolving relationship between China and India, following a two-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization where leaders from both nations emphasized their partnership rather than rivalry. Chinese President Xi Jinping is anticipated to address the summit.

Regional Index Performance

Hong Kong and Mainland China: The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong increased by 1.9%, while the CSI 300 index in mainland China remained unchanged.
Japan's Decline: The Nikkei 225 index in Japan fell by 1.83%, with significant losses from Advantest (down 8.65%), Disco Corp (down 8.51%), and SoftBank Group (down 6.01%). The broader Topix index also decreased by 0.68%.
South Korea and Australia: In South Korea, the Kospi index dropped by 0.4%, and the small-cap Kosdaq fell by 0.57%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 benchmark retreated by 0.55%.

U.S. Market Insights

U.S. Court Ruling on Tariffs: Investors are digesting a recent ruling from a U.S. federal appeals court that deemed most of President Donald Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" illegal, stating he overstepped his authority with tariffs imposed on nearly all countries.
Wall Street Performance: On Wall Street, stocks declined on Friday, influenced by new inflation data indicating persistent price increases. The S&P 500 closed 0.64% lower at 6,460.26, marking its fourth consecutive month of gains. The Nasdaq Composite fell by 1.15% to 21,455.55, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.20%, settling at 45,544.88. U.S. markets are closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.