Asian equity markets mostly advanced on Thursday, lifted by gains in semiconductor stocks after major US technology companies signaled they will continue to invest heavily in AI infrastructure. South Korea led the region, with the Kospi jumping more than 3% as chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics rallied. Japan’s Nikkei rose about 1%, while markets in Australia, China, and Hong Kong also opened higher.
Sentiment was buoyed by Alphabet’s plans to ramp up capital expenditure, with the company expecting to invest as much as $205 billion this year, reinforcing optimism about demand prospects for regional chipmakers. At the same time, investors kept a close watch on tensions in the Middle East, where escalating conflict pushed oil prices to six-week highs, stoking concerns over potential supply disruptions and renewed inflationary pressures.
