Asian markets mostly higher, Nikkei rises on Wall Street gains

Equity indices across Asia began Tuesday's session largely in positive territory, taking their cue from Wall Street, where artificial intelligence-linked shares carried the Nasdaq Composite to a record high. According to Mettis Global, investors stayed guarded because U.S. Treasury yields remained elevated. Japan's Nikkei 225 edged up 0.22 per cent at the opening, while the Topix index added 0.26 per cent.

South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.15 per cent, whereas the Kosdaq climbed 1.91 per cent, and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.36 per cent, figures attributed to CNBC. Later in the day, the Hang Seng Index gained 0.95 per cent while mainland China stayed shut for the Golden Week break. Futures tied to the Nikkei in Chicago and Osaka were quoted at 70,220 and 70,180 respectively, against a previous close of 69,946.86.

Crude oil fell overnight, with futures down about 1.9 per cent at $100.32 per barrel and U.S. crude off roughly 1.8 per cent at $89.43. The 10-year Treasury yield moved above 5.3 per cent, a level not seen since 2002, while the 30-year yield topped 5.7 per cent, its loftiest reading in 24 years. Traders now look ahead to the minutes of the Federal Reserve's September meeting, due Wednesday, for clues on the policy path.