Asian Stocks Mixed as Geopolitical Uncertainty Weighs
Asian equity markets delivered a mixed performance on Tuesday, as investors remained cautious amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire. While some markets advanced, broader sentiment was restrained by geopolitical risks.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures edged slightly higher during Asian trading hours, following a modest decline in Wall Street benchmarks overnight.
KOSPI Hits Record High on AI Chip Rally
South Korea’s KOSPI surged more than 2%, reaching a new all-time high of 6,361.17 points. The rally was driven by strong gains in semiconductor stocks, particularly those linked to artificial intelligence.
SK Hynix led the move, climbing to record levels after announcing plans to produce advanced memory modules for next-generation AI chips developed by NVIDIA. The news reinforced optimism around continued growth in the AI sector.
Japanese Markets Supported by Tech Stocks
Japanese equities also benefited from strength in technology shares. The Nikkei 225 rose 1.3%, while the broader TOPIX index posted a modest gain of 0.3%.
The positive momentum follows a strong performance on Wall Street last week, where robust corporate earnings and continued enthusiasm for AI-related stocks supported major indices.
Geopolitical Risks Cap Market Gains
Despite pockets of strength, gains across Asia were limited by renewed geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.
Oil prices remained elevated after recent developments, including the reported seizure of an Iranian vessel and concerns over potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a key global energy route.
Focus on US-Iran Talks Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline
Investors are closely monitoring diplomatic efforts taking place in Islamabad, where discussions aimed at easing tensions have produced mixed signals.
While some reports suggest Iran may participate in further talks, others indicate hesitation, highlighting uncertainty as the ceasefire deadline approaches.
China and Regional Markets Show Mixed Performance
Chinese equities edged lower, with both the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indices declining by 0.3%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index remained largely unchanged.
Elsewhere in the region, Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.3%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2%. Futures linked to India’s Nifty 50 index also edged down slightly by 0.1%.
