Asian stock markets closed unevenly on Monday, with Japan's Nikkei outperforming on a Toyota-led rally, while Chinese and Hong Kong bourses remained subdued amid conflicting U.S.-China trade signals.

Major Index Moves

• Nikkei 225: +0.5%

• TOPIX: +1.1%

• Shanghai Composite: flat

• CSI 300: flat

• Hang Seng: -0.1%

• KOSPI: +0.2%

• ASX 200: +0.8%

• Straits Times: -0.5%

Toyota's Supplier Buyout Sparks Auto Rally

• Toyota Motor (TYO:7203 / NYSE:TM): +5.5% after exploring a $42 billion bid for parts maker Toyota Industries (OTC:TYIDF).

• Peer Gains: Nissan (OTC:NSANY) +2.5%; Honda (TYO:7267) +1.2%.

• Broader Impact: Boosted Japanese automakers and lifted the Nikkei.

Trade-Tariff Whiplash

• Trump vs. Bessent: White House hints at cutting China tariffs, only for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to deny talks—keeping U.S.-China trade outlook murky.

• China's Stance: Beijing denies negotiations unless threats cease.

• Investor Take: Caution persists; U.S. futures drifted lower in Asian hours.

Central Bank Watch

• BOJ Meeting: Bank of Japan convenes May 1; widely expected to hold rates amid global uncertainty.

• China PMIs: Official and Caixin manufacturing figures due Wednesday—key gauges of tariff impact on China's factory activity.

What to Watch Tomorrow

1. China Official & Caixin PMIs (Wed)

2. BOJ Policy Decision (May 1)

3. U.S. Futures Reaction to trade announcements

Track Today's Top Gainers

For a real-time snapshot of this morning's biggest movers—like Toyota's 5.5% surge—tap into the
🔗 Market Biggest Gainers - Market Overview API
from Financial Modeling Prep.