Asian stock markets opened mostly higher on Wednesday as investors took encouragement from gains in technology and semiconductor shares, even as uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict continued to weigh on sentiment.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.3% in morning trading, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.9%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up about 0.1%, and the Shanghai Composite added 0.3%. South Korea’s KOSPI was little changed after giving up earlier gains.
Technology and chip-related companies were among the notable gainers. In Japan, SoftBank Group rose around 6%, while semiconductor-related stocks including Renesas Electronics and Rohm also advanced. Investors continued to show interest in artificial intelligence and semiconductor companies despite broader geopolitical concerns.
News as Reported.
