Sensex, Nifty Open Higher; Auto Stocks Surge On Price Cuts

The Australian stock market is extending its early losses in mid-market trading on Tuesday, adding to the losses in the previous session, despite the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is falling below the 8,800 level, with weakness in iron ore miners, financial and energy stocks partially offset by gains in gold miners.

Asian stock markets are trading mixed on Tuesday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, as traders remain optimistic about the outlook for interest rates following last week's weaker-than-expected US jobs data. They also remain cautious ahead of key U.S. inflation readings due later in the week that could influence the US Fed's rate trajectory.

Indian shares look set to open higher on Tuesday, even as volatility cannot be ruled out amid talk of more sanctions against Russia and ahead of key U.S. inflation readings due this week that could influence the Federal Reserve's rate trajectory.

The Thai stock market has moved higher in back-to-back sessions, adding almost 15 points or 1.2 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now sits just above the 1,265-point plateau and it may extend its winning streak again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were modestly higher and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead. The SET finished slightly higher on Monday following gains from the food, consumer, finance, industrial, property and service sectors. For the day, the index was up 1.31 points or 0.10 percent to finish at 1,266.11 after trading between 1,264.79 and 1,276.15. Volume was 10.729 billion shares worth 54.546 billion baht. There were 278 gainers and 195 decliners, with 182 stocks finishing unchanged. Among the actives, Advanced Info skidded 1.02 percent, while Thailand Airport tumbled 1.95 percent, Banpu fell 0.40 percent, Bangkok Bank collected 0.66 percent, Bangkok Dusit Medical sank 0.95 percent, Bangkok Expressway soared 4.76 percent, B. Grimm retreated 1.54 percent, BTS Group rallied 4.24 percent, CP All Public jumped 1.58 percent, CP Axtra skyrocketed 14.14 percent, Charoen Pokphand Foods surged 4.44 percent, Energy Absolute stumbled 2.84 percent, Gulf plummeted 4.74 percent, Kasikornbank climbed 1.18 percent, Krung Thai Bank advanced 0.99 percent, Krung Thai Card dropped 0.85 percent, PTT Oil & Retail strengthened 1.39 percent, PTT improved 0.79 percent, PTT Global Chemical slumped 0.90 percent, SCG Packaging added 0.56 percent, Siam Commercial Bank shed 0.40 percent, Siam Concrete spiked 2.28 percent, TTB Bank skidded 1.05 percent and Asset World, True Corporation, PTT Exploration and Production and Thai Oil were unchanged.

The Japanese stock market is trading significantly higher on Tuesday, extending the gains in the previous three sessions, despite the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The Nikkei 225 is moving above the 44,100 level to record all-time highs, after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation, with gains across most sectors led by exporters and technology stocks.

The Indonesia stock market has moved lower in two straight sessions, sinking almost 120 points or 1.8 percent in that span. The Jakarta Composite Index now rests just above the 7,765-point plateau although it may stop the bleeding on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were modestly higher and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead. The JCI finished sharply lower on Monday following losses from the finance, food and telecom stocks, while the resource companies were mixed. For the day, the index tumbled 100.50 points or 1.28 percent to finish at 7,766.85 after trading between 7,766.85 and 7,934.99. Among the actives, Bank CIMB Niaga dipped 0.29 percent, while Bank Mandiri tanked 4.06 percent, Bank Danamon Indonesia skidded 1.18 percent, Bank Negara Indonesia stumbled 4.35 percent, Bank Central Asia surrendered 3.75 percent, Bank Rakyat Indonesia retreated 2.50 percent, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison declined 2.04 percent, Indofood Sukses Makmur slumped 1.33 percent, United Tractors surged 4.34 percent, Astra International tumbled 1.36 percent, Energi Mega Persada dropped 2.50 percent, Astra Agro Lestari shed 0.68 percent, Aneka Tambang soared 6.49 percent, Vale Indonesia eased 0.26 percent, Timah rallied 5.83 percent, Bumi Resources sank 3.57 percent and Indocement and Semen Indonesia were unchanged.

The Hong Kong stock market has moved higher in consecutive trading days, climbing more than 675 points or 2.7 percent along the way. The Hang Seng Index now sits just above the 25,630-point plateau and it may see mild upside again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were modestly higher and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead. The Hang Seng finished modestly higher on Monday following gains from the property stocks, technology companies and financial shares. For the day, the index gained 215.93 points or 0.85 percent to finish at 25,633.91 after trading between 25,387.81 and 25,664.01. Among the actives, Alibaba Group spiked 4.17 percent, while ANTA Sports climbed 0.85 percent, China Life Insurance sank 0.35 percent, China Mengniu Dairy and Nongfu Spring both shed 0.20 percent, China Resources Land improved 0.45 percent, CITIC surged 6.81 percent, CNOOC added 0.40 percent, CSPC Pharmaceutical accelerated 2.59 percent, Galaxy Entertainment advanced 0.58 percent, Hang Lung Properties gained 0.12 percent, Henderson Land increased 0.23 percent, Hong Kong & China Gas jumped 1.74 percent, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China collected 0.35 percent, JD.com strengthened 1.06 percent, Lenovo plunged 3.00 percent, Li Auto stumbled 1.02 percent, Li Ning rose 0.11 percent, Meituan slumped 0.97 percent, New World Development skyrocketed 17.40 percent, Techtronic Industries dipped 0.10 percent, Xiaomi Corporation rallied 2.05 percent, WuXi Biologics soared 5.52 percent and Haier Smart Home and Alibaba Health Info were unchanged.

The Australian stock market is trading modestly lower on Tuesday, extending the losses in the previous session, despite the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is falling well below the 8,850 level, with weakness in iron ore miners, financial and energy stocks partially offset by gains in gold miners.