Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Holds Near $90K, Regional Stocks Lose Momentum Despite Fed Cut Expectations

Asian markets kicked off November 28, 2025, with a bifurcated tone: **Bitcoin (BTC)** clung to $91,000 resilience, buoyed by institutional inflows and **Federal Reserve rate cut** speculation, while regional equities sputtered amid profit-taking and geopolitical jitters. Traders navigated a post-rally cooldown, questioning if the global rebound—sparked by U.S. tech gains—can sustain amid inflation worries and slowing China data.

BTC traded between $90,700 and $91,900 in early sessions, up 0.2% to $91,159, defying equity headwinds. Ethereum (ETH) mirrored at $3,050, while altcoins like Solana held flat. Analysts credit whale accumulation—$1.37 billion scooped last week—and ETF inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT adding $500 million yesterday. Yet, RSI at 41 signals neutral-bearish caution; a drop below $90,500 could test $88,000 support.

Equities lagged: Japan’s **Nikkei 225** edged up 0.17% to 50,253.91, extending three-day gains on yen weakness, but broader Topix rose modestly 0.29%. Hong Kong’s **Hang Seng** dipped 0.34% to 25,858.89, dragged by tech drags like Alibaba (-1.2%), while mainland **CSI 300** eked out 0.25% to 4,526.67. South Korea’s **KOSPI** plunged 1.51% to 3,926.59, hammered by LG Energy Solution’s 6.8% tumble after LG Chem’s stake trim announcement. Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.1% to 8,614.1.

Fueling the divergence: CME FedWatch pegs a 42.9% chance of a December 25bps cut—down from 95% last month—amid sticky inflation and robust U.S. jobs data. Governor Miran’s call for a bolder 50bps slash highlights policy split, potentially easing borrowing but stoking volatility. Asia’s caution stems from Tokyo’s hotter-than-expected inflation (2.9% YoY) and U.S.-China trade frictions, prompting profit-locking after Nikkei’s 2025 surge.

Outlook: Watch China’s November PMI and Japan’s earnings for rebound cues. Crypto’s **Bitcoin Asia open** stability contrasts equity drags, but correlated risks loom if Fed dials back easing. With volatility index at 25, strategists urge diversified hedges—crypto’s safe-haven allure shines, yet stocks eye catalysts to reignite. In this **Fed cut expectations** tug-of-war, Asia’s split signals selective optimism.