Asian stocks climbed for a fourth day on Tuesday as Wall Street's upbeat mood ahead of expected Federal Reserve rate cuts flowed into regional trading. MSCI's Asia-Pacific equities gauge reached its highest level since February 2021 with tech firms like Taiwan Semiconductor and Alibaba Group contributing most to the gains. Shares in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong rose, while those in Australia declined. The moves followed a surge in bets on rate cuts by the US central bank that pushed stocks near record highs on hopes that easier policy will bolster corporate America. We look at the market landscape with Carol Schleif, Chief Market Strategist at BMO Private Wealth.

In Japan, the implications of the nation's latest political turmoil have spilled into markets. The Nikkei 225 advanced to touch a new intraday record high in the morning. The country's government bonds were firmer after having slumped Monday as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's decision to step down underscored expectations for looser fiscal policy. Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Gearoid Reidy joins with insight on the road ahead for Japan's ruling bloc.