Asian markets settled higher on Friday due to optimism over China's artificial intelligence potential, and after US President Donald Trump's comments raised expectations of a de-escalation in the trade war between the world's two largest economies, the United States and China. Hong Kong shares surged, led by Alibaba stock, as euphoria continued over DeepSeek’s potential in the artificial intelligence sector. Japanese shares gained as the yen retreated, even after Japan's core consumer inflation hit 3.2% in January for its fastest pace in 19 months reinforced expectations that the central bank will keep raising interest rates from levels still seen as low.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,379.11 | 28.33 | 0.84 |
Hang Seng | 23,477.92 | 900.94 | 3.84 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,803.00 | 14.96 | 0.22 |
KLSE Composite | 1,591.03 | 13.36 | 0.85 |
Nikkei 225 | 38,776.94 | 98.90 | 0.26 |
Straits Times | 3,929.94 | 2.43 | 0.06 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,654.58 | 0.52 | 0.02 |
Taiwan Weighted | 23,730.25 | 242.79 | 1.02 |
