Japan Financial Markets

A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Tokyo.

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Asian shares gain, with South Korea's Kospi up 6%, after the US Treasury expands its debt buybacks

Asian shares gain, with South Korea's Kospi up 6%, after the US Treasury expands its debt buybacks

Shares are mostly higher in Asia, with South Korea’s benchmark Kospi rebounding more than 6%. U.S. futures also were trading higher early Thursday after the U.S. Treasury Department said it would at least double the size of its planned purchases of longer-term government debt. South Korea led the gains after sinking 5.8% on Wednesday on renewed selling of shares related to artificial intelligence. On Wednesday, U.S. stocks climbed after the Treasury Department announced its plan, which could ease pressure coming from the bond market. Buying bonds would increase their prices, which would help bring down yields. The benchmark S&P 500 climbed 0.2% and the Dow industrials added 0.2%. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%.