Turkey Targets 5% Economic Growth by 2029 
Japan, US Target AI and Chips in $550 Billion Investment Push 
China Expands Influence in Global Gold Market 
JPMorgan Sees ECB Raising Rates to 2.75% in December 
Asian Stocks Rally as Fed Rate Hike Fears Ease 
Japan Foreign Reserves Plunge $79.6 Billion After Record Yen Intervention 
Yen Rebounds as BOJ Rate Hike Bets Rise 
US Oil Blockade Deepens Iran’s Economic Crisis 
European Stocks Flat as Iran Tensions, ECB Rate Hike Loom 
Jefferies Names 6 Top India Stock Picks Across Key Sectors 
ECB Set for September Rate Hike as Energy Prices Fuel Inflation 
Hong Kong Eyes Offshore Yuan Expansion, Deeper China Market Links 
Chinese AI Stocks Rally After OpenAI Launches GPT-6 Astra 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
Hungary Industrial Output Beats Forecasts With 4.7% July Growth 
Uranium Prices Could Top $100 as Nuclear Demand Grows 
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Asian stocks mostly advanced Wednesday as renewed strength in technology and semiconductor shares boosted markets in South Korea and Japan. However, higher oil prices and uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Iran negotiations kept investors cautious ahead of key U.S. inflation data.
South Korea’s KOSPI led regional gains, surging more than 4%, supported by a powerful chip-stock rally. Samsung Electronics jumped over 7%, while SK Hynix gained around 7% amid reports that Singapore state investor Temasek is considering direct investments in both semiconductor companies.
AI optimism also strengthened after CoreWeave reported better-than-expected sales growth, sending its shares sharply higher in extended U.S. trading. Super Micro Computer also gained after issuing a revenue forecast above expectations. Meanwhile, Nvidia announced partnerships with six major financial institutions aimed at mobilizing more than $500 billion in third-party capital for AI infrastructure.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained about 0.5%, with semiconductor-related stocks including Kioxia Holdings, TDK and Murata Manufacturing advancing. Chinese markets also moved higher, with the CSI 300 rising roughly 0.6% and the Shanghai Composite adding around 0.2%. SMIC, Cambricon Technologies, Luxshare Precision and NAURA Technology were among the notable technology gainers.
Hong Kong bucked the regional trend. The Hang Seng fell more than 1% as major technology stocks Alibaba, Tencent, NetEase, JD.com and Meituan declined.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped around 0.7% after the Reserve Bank of Australia maintained its cash rate at 4.35%. Indian and Singaporean stocks also traded lower.
Oil prices remained another key market concern as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz continued. Brent crude extended its rally to a sixth consecutive session, trading near $89.44 per barrel amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Investors are now focused on the U.S. Consumer Price Index report. July headline CPI is forecast to rise 0.1% month-on-month and 3.4% annually, while core inflation is expected at 2.5% year-on-year. A softer U.S. inflation reading could reduce pressure on the Federal Reserve as markets weigh interest-rate risks against rising energy costs.
