Business · Markets · 3 hrs ago
Asian shares rise as strong earnings lift investor confidence
Asian shares rose on Wednesday after Wall Street ended higher, while bonds steadied.
The gains came as early results from the US earnings season pointed to strong profits, with 86% of reporting S&P 500 companies beating estimates.
South Korea’s market led the regional rise, gaining 4%, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 1.3%.
Markets had steadied after last week’s sharp selloff, but concerns about high oil prices, borrowing costs and AI-related investment continued to weigh on trading.
Oil prices remained volatile amid reports of possible peace talks and continuing security concerns in the Gulf.
Investors are watching upcoming interest-rate decisions: the Bank of Japan meets on October 30, and the US Federal Reserve meets on October 28.
Asian stocks rose on Wednesday after Wall Street gains, as early corporate earnings results supported investor confidence.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 1.5%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.3%.
Korean shares led regional gains, climbing 4%.
With 13% of S&P 500 companies reporting, 86% had beaten earnings estimates, according to LSEG data.
Oil prices and Treasury yields eased during the Wall Street session, while concerns about the AI trade and elevated costs weighed on some markets.
- Who
- Asian investors and companies reporting earnings. Early results showed many S&P 500 companies beating estimates.
- What
- Asian stocks rose as strong earnings helped support Wall Street.
- When
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The article was published at 03:26 UTC.
- Where
- Asian markets and Wall Street.
- Why
- Early indications of strong corporate profits bolstered investor confidence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Asian regional stocks experienced a sharp selloff.
Wall Street stocks edged higher, with the S&P 500 rising 0.3%.
Asian stocks rose at the start of trading as earnings results supported investor confidence.
- Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
- Up 1.5%
- Korean shares
- Up 4%
- Japan’s Nikkei 225
- Up 1.3%
- S&P 500 companies reporting
- 13%
- Companies beating earnings estimates
- 86% of those reporting
3 sources
What people are saying
Global equities were mixed, with solid earnings supporting US markets while ongoing concerns around the AI trade and elevated oil and borrowing costs weighed more heavily elsewhere
Oil prices fell on unconfirmed reports of renewed peace negotiations, before largely retracing the move after the reports were denied