Asian shares are mostly higher while US futures and oil prices hold
steady
[August 17, 2026] By
ELAINE KURTENBACH
BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mostly higher Monday in Asia after U.S.
stocks edged back from their all-time high following a weaker than
expected report on the U.S. economy.
U.S. futures were little changed and oil prices were mixed.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 0.3% to 68,929.33 after the Japanese
government reported the economy grew slightly faster than forecast in
the April-June quarter, expanding at a 1.1% annual pace even as private
spending and investment stayed flat and export growth slowed. In
quarterly terms, the economy grew 0.3% in the second quarter of the
year.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng picked up 1.6% to 25,521.99, while the
Shanghai Composite index rose 0.8% to 3,960.19.
Markets in South Korea were closed for a holiday.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.4% to 9,076.90.
Taiwan's Taiex gained 0.5%, while the Sensex in India fell 0.5%.
On Friday, The S&P 500 fell 0.2% following a report that showed shoppers
spent less at U.S. retailers last month. Such data could help the
Federal Reserve keep interest rates low, which is positive for
investors. But it also suggests growth may be slowing at a time when
inflation is still high.
The Fed has no good tool to fix both a stagnating economy and high
inflation at the same time, which is why what’s called “stagflation” is
seen as a worst-case scenario.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite
shed 0.3%.
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People walk past the Nasdaq MarketSite, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in
New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
 Wall Street will get financial
updates from some of the nation’s biggest retailers this week.
Home Depot reports its latest results on Tuesday, followed by Target
and Lowes on Wednesday and then Walmart on Thursday. The results
will help give investors a more detailed picture of how businesses
and consumers are handling stubbornly high inflation.
Wall Street and economists will get more details about the Federal
Reserve’s interest rate policy when the central bank releases
minutes from the July meeting on Wednesday.
In other dealings early Monday, Brent crude, the international
standard, edged 0.1% higher to $88.62 per barrel, while U.S.
benchmark crude slipped 0.3% to $82.19 per barrel.
With prospects for a deal toward ending the war with Iran unclear,
the stability of oil supplies remains uncertain with the Strait of
Hormuz nearly closed, blocking a vital route for oil and gas tankers
from the Middle East.
The U.S. dollar fell to 159.09 Japanese yen from 159.32 yen. The
euro rose to $1.1587 from $1.1588.
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