[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed as the region mulls stronger-than-expected US and China data, as well as Trump's rejection of Iran's response to the peace proposal

APAC Stocks: Mixed

• Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed as the region reflects on last Friday's tech rally and NFP beat, as well as firmer-than-expected Chinese data, and the latest geopolitical developments with US President Trump rejecting Iran's response to the peace proposal.

ASX 200: -0.7%

• Index was dragged lower by heavy losses in the health care sector as CSL shares slumped by around 19% after it flagged a USD 5bln impairment, while sentiment was also not helped by a report that Australia’s government is to scrap the 50% capital gains tax discount by July 2027.

Nikkei 225: -0.4%

• Initially climbed to a fresh record high north of the 63,000 level but then wiped out all of its gains and more amid headwinds from higher oil prices and weak earnings outlooks for the likes of Nintendo and Honda.

KOSPI +4.0%

• Outperforms and rose to an all-time high on tech strength, while the Korea Exchange activated a sidecar on the KOSPI after KOSPI 200 futures rose 5% to halt programme trading for 5 minutes.

Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng -0.3% / Shanghai Comp +0.9%

• Chinese markets are varied amid the mixed fortunes among the tech names in Hong Kong, and with the mainland boosted after Chinese trade and inflation data topped forecasts.

US Equity Futures: lower

• Futures were marginally pressured by the higher oil prices and US President Trump's rejection of Iran's response to the peace proposal.

European Equity Futures Flat

• Indicate an uneventful cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures unchanged, after the cash market closed with losses of 1.0% on Friday.