Asian markets displayed mixed performance on Monday following the reopening of Chinese markets after the Lunar New Year holiday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dipped 0.8% amid concerns about the property market despite announcements of billions of dollars in loans from Chinese state banks. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 declined marginally by less than 0.1%.
Significant declines were observed in the video game sector, with Nintendo's shares plummeting 5.8% following reports that the successor to the Switch console may not be available this year.
In contrast, other Asian markets exhibited gains. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.1%, while South Korea's Kospi advanced 1.2%. Thailand's SET and India's Sensex also recorded modest increases of 0.2% and 0.5%, respectively.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 retreated 0.5% from its record high reached the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq composite also declined by 0.4% and 0.8%, respectively.
A report on wholesale inflation dampened expectations that the Federal Reserve might begin cutting interest rates as early as March. Higher rates impede economic growth and reduce investment returns.
Nonetheless, analysts remain optimistic about the economy's resilience and the potential for companies to generate profit growth, which could support stock prices. A preliminary report suggests an improvement in consumer sentiment, which is crucial as consumer spending constitutes a significant portion of the economy.