Asian Shares Climb as Tech Surges; CPI, Trade in Spotlight

- Asian equities climb on strong tech earnings; US inflation, trade in focus. - Falling oil prices linked to geopolitical talks; US CPI, tariffs closely watched. Strong corporate earnings in the technology sector pushed Asian shares to modest gains on Monday, August 11, 2025. While Japan’s markets were closed for a national holiday, futures indicated the Nikkei 225 index could move toward record highs. Investors are closely monitoring several key developments, including the upcoming U.S. consumer price index (CPI) report for July, the expiring U.S.-China tariff deadline, and ongoing U.S.-Russia energy market discussions. On August 11, Reuters reported that analysts expect the July CPI data to show a 0.3% increase in core inflation. This data, set for release on Tuesday, August 12, is expected to push the annual inflation rate to 3.0%, above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. As a result, the report will likely shape future monetary policy and impact the U.S. dollar, which held steady on Monday after a slight decline last week. Investors are also focused on the U.S.-China tariff deadline, which expires on Tuesday. Many expect another extension, which has momentarily stabilized trade-related sentiment; however, the situation remains dynamic and depends on ongoing negotiations. In the semiconductor industry, multiple sources reported on August 11 that Nvidia and AMD struck an agreement with the U.S. government. The deal requires the companies to surrender 15% of their revenue from Chinese chip sales to retain their export licenses, a significant move to safeguard access to the lucrative Chinese market amid rising geopolitical tensions. Meanwhile, oil prices continued to decline on Monday, extending last week's downward trend. Reuters reported that this drop stems from market optimism about upcoming talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders are set to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss the Ukraine conflict, and speculation is growing that they may ease sanctions on Russian oil. Such a resolution could increase global supply and further impact energy prices. According to CoinMarketCap on August 11, 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $29,412 as of 12:00 UTC, with its 24-hour trading volume changing by 1.8%. In the same period, Ethereum (ETH) was trading at $1,827, with its volume increasing by 2.1%.