Asian Stock Markets Reach New Heights
On April 9, 2025, stock markets in South Korea and Japan achieved record highs amidst positive regional trends, largely influenced by a rally in the tech sector on Wall Street. This surge came as worries about AI-related disruptions in various industries eased.
The Nikkei Stock Average in Japan climbed over 1.4%, while the TOPIX index saw a modest increase of 0.3%. Meanwhile, in South Korea, the Kospi index surged by 1.72%, surpassing the 6,000 mark for the first time. Major players like SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics saw their stocks rise by 0.6% and 0.88%, respectively. The small-cap Kosdaq index also gained, albeit slightly, with a rise of 0.16%.
Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index saw a 1.13% increase. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ticked up by 0.39%, and the mainland’s CSI300 index rose by 0.49%. Taiwan’s benchmark stock index also joined the upward trend, marking its fifth consecutive record high with a rise of 1.8%.
After dipping below $63,000 on Tuesday, Bitcoin rebounded by about 2%, managing to stabilize around the $65,000 mark.
A report from BMI noted that while the global economy shows some resilience, market direction remains unclear due to various challenges. They cited increased geopolitical risks and the recent volatility associated with AI advancements.
BMI analysts mentioned, “We estimate a 50% chance of a US-led military strike on Iran, which is affecting oil prices and strengthening the US dollar.”
Investors are also closely watching U.S. President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. “We’re in talks. They want a deal, but they haven’t heard the crucial message that nuclear weapons won’t be an option for us. My hope is to resolve this through diplomatic means,” Trump remarked.
In the oil markets, West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased by 0.72%, reaching $66.1 per barrel, while Brent crude futures gained 0.73%, hitting $71.29 per barrel.
In the US, stock prices climbed overnight, driven by strong performances in shares like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and various software stocks. AMD shares surged by 8.8% following a multi-year agreement with Metaplatforms to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of AMD graphics processing units in AI data centers. Meta also revealed plans to invest in AMD stock based on performance incentives.
This partnership announcement came a week after Meta disclosed its use of Nvidia chips for its data centers. AI-focused stocks, such as those of AI Chip Darling, also saw a modest rise of 0.7%.
The S&P 500 increased by 0.77%, closing at 6,890.07, while the Nasdaq Composite grew by 1.04%, settling at 22,863.68. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed by 370.44 points, or 0.76%, ending at 49,174.50. Home Depot’s shares rose nearly 2% after reporting earnings that exceeded market expectations for the first time in a year, contributing to the Dow’s overall ascent. IBM’s stock, which had dropped the prior day due to concerns over AI, also supported the Dow’s positive movement.
