Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday, with investors awaiting more details of the trade talks between the U.S. and China, which are set to kick off in Stockholm later in the day.

The talks will be led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Bessent said on Fox Business that he expects a trade-truce extension during the negotiations, which he added will include a broader range of topics, such as Beijing’s oil purchases from Russia and Iran.

The U.S.-China talks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. has reached an agreement with the European Union on Sunday stateside.

The president had previously threatened 30% tariffs on most imported goods from the U.S.’s largest trading partner.

Bitcoin (BTC) traded above $119,430 Monday, up 1.24%, after a US-EU trade deal was announced.

The US-EU deal sets a 15% tariff, avoiding a threatened 30% rate, and includes a $600B EU investment pledge.

Bitcoin’s realized market capitalization crossed the $1 trillion threshold for the first time, per Glassnode.

Bitcoin (BTC) pushed higher in early Asian trading on Monday, trading above $119,430, as bullish momentum continued to build following a series of significant institutional milestones and a breakthrough trade agreement between the United of States and the European Union over the weekend.

A transatlantic truce: US and EU strike a deal

In a major development for global markets, US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a framework trade agreement at a summit in Turnberry, Scotland.

The deal sets a 15% US import tariff on EU goods, a significant de-escalation that averts a previously threatened 30% rate.

The agreement also includes a commitment for $600 billion in EU investment into US energy and defense sectors over the next three years, a move aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian fuel.

However, existing tariffs on steel and aluminum will remain at 50% for the time being.

This easing of transatlantic trade tensions has provided a positive backdrop for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin is up 1.24% in early Asian hours, and the CoinDesk 20 (CD20) Index, a broad measure of the largest digital assets, has risen 2.37% to 4,099.18, extending its recent recovery.

Bitcoin’s institutional bedrock deepens

The positive macro news comes as Bitcoin continues to consolidate its recent gains, holding steady above the $118,000 mark after hitting a new record high of $122,700 last week.

This powerful rally has triggered some predictable selling from long-term holders, while simultaneously drawing in new buyers and fresh capital, creating a dynamic market environment.

A key indicator of the market’s growing maturity and value was highlighted by on-chain analytics firm Glassnode, which reported that Bitcoin’s realized market capitalization had crossed the $1 trillion threshold for the first time.

This metric, which measures the total value of all Bitcoin based on the price at which each coin last moved on-chain, is seen as a more fundamentally grounded valuation than the simple market cap.

Further evidence of the massive scale of institutional activity came to light on Friday, when Galaxy Digital announced it had executed a staggering $9 billion BTC transaction on behalf of a Satoshi-era investor.

The sale, which involved 80,000 BTC, was reportedly part of an estate planning strategy and represents one of the largest single Bitcoin transfers in history.

The fact that the market was able to absorb this massive sale without a significant price downturn is seen by many as a testament to how much of the Bitcoin supply is illiquid, held tightly by long-term “HODLers.”

A market on the verge of a supply-shock rally, it seems, can readily absorb an extra $9 billion being placed up for sale.

As Bitcoin’s price has climbed, its dominance, which measures its market share relative to the total crypto market, has edged down slightly to 60.98%. This suggests a modest rotation of capital into altcoins as traders’ risk appetite grows.

The bullish sentiment is also being reflected in prediction markets. Polymarket bettors now give Bitcoin a 24% chance of hitting $125,000 before the end of July, an increase from 18% earlier in the week, as traders weigh the impact of these positive macro tailwinds and the growing on-chain conviction.

Broader Market Snapshot

Indian equity indices are expected to open on a muted note following mixed global cues. The US futures were trading in the green. The GIFT Nifty was trading 0.02% higher at 24,846. Here are key global cues to watch before the market opens that include new crude oil prices, FII and DII data, business groups that most affect, sectoral performance, etc.

Earlier on Friday, the NSE Nifty 50 closed the session 225 points or 0.90% lower at 24,837, while the BSE Sensex tanked 721 points or 0.88% to close at 81,460.

Key global and domestic cues to know on July 28, 2025

Asian Markets

Asia-Pacific markets were trading on a mixed note on Monday morning, with investors awaiting more details of the trade talks between the US and China, which are set to kick off in Stockholm later in the day. Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark fell 0.85% while the broader Topix index moved down 0.44%. In South Korea, the Kospi index added 0.15% while the small-cap Kosdaq was flat.

US markets

The future contracts tied to the US benchmarks rose on Monday as Wall Street prepared for a busy week that’ll bring earnings from several major tech companies, a key Federal Reserve meeting, President Donald Trump’s August 01 tariff deadline, and key inflation data.

The futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 180 points, or 0.4%. S&P 500 futures were also higher by 0.3% and Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.4%.

US dollar

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar’s value against a basket of six foreign currencies, was trading 0.11% lower at 97.54 on Monday morning. The index evaluates the strength or weakness of the US dollar in comparison to major currencies. The basket contains currencies such as the British Pound, Euro, Swedish Krona, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, etc. The rupee depreciated 0.12% to close at 86.52 to the dollar on July 25.

Crude oil

The crude oil prices traded on a lower note on Monday morning. WTI crude prices were trading at $65.41, up by 0.35%, while Brent crude prices were trading at $68.67, up by 0.34%.

FII, DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FII) were the net sellers of shares worth Rs 2,998.95 crore. On the other hand, the Domestic institutional investors (DII) were the net buyers of shares worth Rs 1,803.46 crore on July 25, 2024, according to the provisional data available on the NSE.

Gold rate today

The rate for 24-carat gold today is Rs 98,300 per 10 grams, consolidating near its all-time high. The safe haven’s price is near the Rs 1 lakh mark. The rate of gold has fallen by 1.5% in the past one month. The 22 kt gold rate today is Rs 90,108 per 10 grams. The 18-carat gold price today is Rs 73,725.

Top sectors in Friday’s trade

Among sectors, Non-Alcoholic Beverages saw the strongest action, with a 1.84% rise in market capitalisation. This was followed by Fertilisers, which gained 1.51%. Cables and Auto Ancillaries also saw decent traction, gaining 1.27% and 1.25%, respectively.

Best and worst performing business groups

The Jaypee Group’s market cap declined the most in Friday’s session, falling 4.65%. It was followed by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group as ED conducted a raid on its Mumbai properties. Apart from that, the Essel Group’s market capitalisation was erased the most, falling 4%. In the list of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group stocks, Reliance Infrastructure and Power were locked in the lower circuit.

Hong Kong stocks rose 0.49% in early trade, while mixed performance was seen across Asia-Pacific markets amid upcoming U.S.-China trade talks.

www.cnbc.com

Hong Kong stocks are making headlines today, rising in early trade as investors react to mixed signals from Asia-Pacific markets. As of 10 a.m. local time on 2025-07-28 06:01:00, the Hang Seng Index climbed 0.49%, reflecting optimism amid ongoing global economic discussions.

6 Key Takeaways Hong Kong stocks rise 0.49% in early trade.

Samsung Electronics shares increase by 3.5%.

Advantest Corp shares drop over 10%.

Asia-Pacific markets open mixed on Monday.

U.S.-China trade talks resume in Stockholm.

UBS predicts temporary market volatility ahead.

Meanwhile, mainland China’s CSI 300 index remained flat, as traders await crucial updates on U.S.-China trade talks scheduled to commence in Stockholm later today. Will these negotiations impact market sentiment across the region?

Fast Answer: Hong Kong stocks rise as investors eye U.S.-China trade talks, while mixed trading characterizes Asia-Pacific markets.

As global markets adjust, the mixed performance raises questions about future volatility. Investors are particularly focused on the implications of U.S.-China relations on market stability. Key points include:

Samsung Electronics shares surged nearly 3.5% in early trade.

Advantest Corp shares plummeted over 10% due to treasury stock disposals.

U.S. futures are trending higher after recent tariff announcements.

Analysts predict temporary market swings amid ongoing trade tensions.

The outcome of U.S.-China talks could significantly influence global market dynamics, making it essential for investors to stay informed.

As the day unfolds, market watchers will be keenly observing how these developments shape trading strategies and investor confidence. Will the ongoing negotiations yield a positive outcome for global markets?

Google parent Alphabet, along with Tesla, will kick off earnings of the so-called ‘Magnificent Seven,’ a group of influential equities (GREG BAKER)

The Nasdaq retreated from a record ahead of earnings from Google parent Alphabet and other tech giants, while European markets fretted over an August 1 deadline for the EU to avert steep tariffs from US President Donald Trump.

Both the Dow and S&P 500 finished higher, but the Nasdaq dropped 0.4 percent to snap a six-day streak of records.

Earnings from Alphabet and Tesla are due on Wednesday, the first two of Wall Street’s “Magnificent Seven” equities to report this season. Several of the largest tech names — such as Apple and Facebook parent Meta — do not report results until next week.

Corporate profit reports so far have painted a generally resilient picture of the US economy, but with gathering clouds in some sectors — particularly automobiles — from Trump’s levies on major trading partners.

Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management said Tuesday’s drop in Nvidia and some other tech names suggested profit-taking after a heady rise.

“It’s a difficult earnings season where expectations are really low but stocks are already priced very high,” Hogan said.

In Europe, only London ended the trading day in the green. Paris and Germany both finished solidly in the red.

The European Union is among Washington’s trading partners that face potentially steep tariffs on August 1 if they do not strike a deal with Trump’s administration.

“European markets have been getting increasingly jittery as the (August 1) deadline approaches,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.

“With little sign of progress so far, investors are preparing for possible tariff retaliation from the EU.”

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would meet his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week for tariff talks, as a separate mid-August deadline approaches for US levies on China to snap back to steeper levels.

– Big earnings reports –

US auto giant General Motors reported a 35-percent plunge in second-quarter profits Tuesday following a $1.1-billion hit from US tariffs, but confirmed its full-year forecast.

Its shares plunged 8.1 percent.

Elsewhere, “expectations for the earnings season include accelerated profit growth for major US technology companies in the second half of the year,” said Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said Tuesday it would invest $50 billion in the United States by 2030 amid Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on the sector.

The dollar continued to lose ground, while oil prices also dropped amid worries about reduced global economic activity going forward.