Asian markets rally as tech and AI stocks drive gains

Asian stock markets showed positive momentum, driven by significant activity in the technology and semiconductor sectors. In Taiwan, the weighted index rose by 1.51% to close at 46,551.13, reclaiming the 46,000 level. This surge was fueled by heavy buying from foreign investors, who contributed over 56.2 billion TWD, primarily targeting electronic stocks including Pegatron, UMC, Foxconn, Wistron, and Yageo.

The rally was particularly strong in the AI supply chain and electronic component sectors. Key performers included TSMC, MediaTek, and Delta Electronics. While the semiconductor and AI-related groups saw substantial gains, the market also saw strength in passive components and PCB sectors. Investors are currently monitoring upcoming U.S. employment data for further direction.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 increased by 1.26%, while South Korea's Kospi rose by 1.64%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng also saw a gain of 1.75%. These movements occurred as investors weighed potential interest rate adjustments from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.