Nikkei 225, Hang Seng Index, Kospi

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday as investors kicked off the final trading week of the year.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slid 0.55%, while the Topix lost 0.26%. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.62%, while the Kosdaq index advanced 0.19%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures were at 25,810, slightly lower than the HSI’s last close of 25,818.93.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was flat.

Prices of spot silver rose to a fresh record high of above $80 per ounce, driven by speculative buying and lingering supply tightness, said experts. Sprott Asset Management said silver’s rally this year reflects a depletion of freely traded inventory, amplifying price moves as demand increases.

“Silver continues to price in the more favorable 2026 macro-outlook, with lower interest rates and the potential for a weaker U.S. dollar boosting the appeal for hard assets,” said Trevor Yates, senior investment analyst at Global X ETFs.

U.S. equity futures were flat in early Asian hours. On Friday stateside, the S&P 500 reached a new high and posted weekly gains as traders came back from the Christmas holiday.

The broad market index closed down 0.03% to end at 6,929.94. At its high, the S&P 500 was up 0.2%, reaching 6,945.77. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.09% and closed at 23,593.10. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 20.19 points, or 0.04%, and settled at 48,710.97.

For the week, the S&P 500 gained 1.4%, notching its fourth weekly advance in five weeks. The Dow and Nasdaq were also up more than 1% week to date.

— CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Fred Imbert contributed to this report.