JCI Opens Slightly Higher as Asia-Pacific Markets Mixed Amid Iran-US Tensions

Jakarta — The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) opened 62 points higher, or 0.76 per cent, at the 8,334 level at the start of trading on Monday, 23 February 2026.

Head of Retail Research at PT BNI Sekuritas, Fanny Suherman, predicted that the JCI would likely trade sideways during Monday’s session.

“The JCI has the potential to move sideways today,” Fanny said in her daily research note on Monday, 23 February 2026.

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed last Friday after all three major Wall Street indices weakened amid pressure on private credit stocks and escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

The prospect of a strike against Iran increased after US President Donald Trump stated he would make a decision within the next 10 days regarding possible military action against Tehran.

In Japan, investors were monitoring January inflation data, which showed headline inflation falling below the Bank of Japan’s 2 per cent target. Additionally, the People’s Bank of China was scheduled to announce its Loan Prime Rate (LPR) decision, with the one-year tenor currently at 3 per cent and the five-year tenor at 3.5 per cent.

The Nikkei 225 index fell 1.12 per cent, whilst the Topix weakened 1.13 per cent. In South Korea, the Kospi index rose 2.31 per cent, whilst the Kosdaq fell 0.58 per cent.

However, mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets remained closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index slipped 0.05 per cent.

“JCI support lies at the 8,200–8,230 level, whilst resistance is in the 8,350–8,420 range,” Fanny said.

Wall Street closed higher last Friday, led by large-capitalisation stocks such as Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., after the US Supreme Court struck down global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

The US Supreme Court, dominated by conservative justices, ruled 6-3 to reject Trump’s global tariffs imposed last year under national emergency legislation.

Trump described the ruling as “a disgrace” and stated he would impose a 10 per cent global tariff for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act 1974 as a replacement for the emergency tariffs overturned by the court.

The S&P 500 index rose 0.69 per cent, the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.90 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.47 per cent. Alphabet shares surged 3.7 per cent, Amazon rose 2.6 per cent, and Apple Inc. gained 1.5 per cent.