Asia-Pacific markets mostly higher after volatile week; India inflation and industrial data in focus

Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher on Monday after a roller-coaster week that saw steep sell-offs followed by a sharp recovery, especially in Japan stocks. Futures for benchmark U.S. indexes were lower as investors awaited key inflation data due later this week. Major Wall Street averages rose Friday, with the indexes making a sharp recovery from last week’s market rout. The Dow ended Friday down 0.6%, while the S&P 500 fell a slight 0.04%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite finished with a 0.18% loss. In Asia, traders on Monday will assess inflation and industrial output data from India. Economists polled by Reuters expect India’s year-on-year CPI inflation to fall sharply to 3.65% in July, from 5.08% in the previous month. Meanwhile, India’s industrial output for June is expected to come in at 5.5%, slightly down from 5.9% in May. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.58%. South Korea’s Kospi and its small-cap Kosdaq were both up 1%. Mainland China’s CSI 300 was flat, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down 0.2% in early trading. Japan markets were closed for a holiday.