Asia Leads, Europe Pauses

Japan and South Korea rally, while most European benchmarks finish slightly lower.

Friday, August 14, 2026 · Daily Market Updates

Global equities are uneven. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rises 1.2% to 68308.5938, and South Korea’s Kospi jumps 3.6% to 6813.3398. In China, the Shanghai Composite slips 0.5% and the Hang Seng edges down 0.2%. India’s Sensex ticks up 0.1%.

Europe is mostly softer but not by much. The FTSE 100 falls 0.6%, the CAC 40 slips 0.3%, and the DAX is down 0.1%. The Stoxx 600 is nearly flat, down 0.0%. The TSX also edges lower, down 0.1%, while the Bovespa slips 0.1%.

Several major European benchmarks still sit above their 200-day averages, including the FTSE 100, CAC 40, DAX, and Stoxx 600. The DAX remains just below its 52-week high, while the TSX is also near its peak. In Brazil, the Bovespa remains below its 200-day average and posts one of the weaker daily readings in the group.

FX moves alongside the split equity tone. The dollar index slips 0.3% to 99.636. EUR/USD rises 0.4% to 1.1573, GBP/USD gains 0.3% to 1.3536, and AUD/USD adds 0.3% to 0.7087. USD/CNY, USD/CAD, and USD/MXN all finish lower on the day.

Further reading

Earlier coverage