Asian stocks climbed on Thursday, driven by signs of easing U.S. inflation, which raised hopes for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Encouraging economic data from Japan and China also boosted investor confidence. Japan’s economy outperformed expectations in the second quarter, and Chinese retail spending increased in July, making these markets the top performers in the region.
Gold prices also rebounded during the Asian trading session on Thursday, recovering from a steep decline the previous day. The growing concerns over an escalating tension in the Middle East and expectations that the Federal Reserve might begin cutting interest rates in September supported the rise in gold prices.