FX.co ★ Asian Stocks Advance on Chip-Led Rally

Asian equity markets advanced on Friday, following overnight gains on Wall Street as a global rally in semiconductor stocks and renewed optimism around the artificial intelligence trade lifted investor sentiment. Confidence was further underpinned by strong earnings from Microsoft and Amazon, which reinforced expectations for continued hyperscaler investment and robust AI-related demand. South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index jumped more than 15%, with SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics each surging over 20%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index added 5%. At the same time, investors turned their attention to the Bank of Japan’s policy decision due later today, with the central bank widely expected to keep interest rates on hold.