GDP Growth Surges, Japan Hits Record High

Asia-Pacific markets rose as investors assessed Japan’s GDP and the flurry of Chinese economic data. In Japan, the Nikkei rebounded 729.05 points, or 1.7%, to 43,378.31, after the country’s second-quarter GDP grew 0.3%, outpacing forecasts despite tariff headwinds. Japan’s economy expanded 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the first three months of the year, as the country grappled with the volatile tariff policy out of the United States. This was compared to the revised 0.1% growth seen in the first quarter, and was higher than the 0.1% increase expected by economists polled by Reuters. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng retreated 249.25 points, or 1%, to 25,270.07. CHINA In Shanghai, the CSI 300 regained 29.05 points, or 0.7%, to 4,202.36 China’s economy lost momentum in July, with growth faltering across the board, as weak domestic demand persisted and Beijing intensified efforts to curb excess capacity. Retail sales last month rose 3.7% from a year earlier, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Friday, sharply missing analysts’ estimates for a 4.6% growth in a Reuters poll and slowing from June’s 4.8% growth. In other markets Markets in Korea were closed for holiday. In Singapore, the Straits Times index dipped 25.99 points, or 0.6%, to 4,230.53 In Taiwan, the Taiex index recovered 96.38 points, or 0.4%, to 24,334.48. In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 55.30 points, or 0.4%, to 12,889.38 In Australia, the ASX 200 gained 64.8 points, or 0.7%, to 8,938.57