RBA Hikes Interest Rate to 4.60% as Inflation Risks Rise 
US Alcohol Ban Exposes Canada’s Internal Trade Barriers 
US Stocks Slip as Treasury Yields Ease, AI Trade Rebounds 
Gold Holds Near Seven-Week Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Japan Factory Output Unexpectedly Falls 1.7% in August 
South Korea Exports Set for 16th Monthly Gain on AI Chip Demand 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Yen Slides on BOJ Rate Signals 
Nvidia China Chip Sales Report Sends Chinese Semiconductor Stocks Lower 
Gold Rebounds as Oil Falls and Treasury Rout Eases 
Dollar Eases Near Two-Month High as Yen Rebounds 
Trump Eyes $54 Billion South Korean Investment in Alaska LNG 
US Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Aussie, Pound Slide 
Gold Steady as Softer U.S. Inflation Eases Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Australia Inflation Accelerates to 4% After RBA Rate Hike 
India Manufacturing Growth Hits Seven-Month High in September 
Fed’s Williams Signals One More Rate Hike Before Year-End 
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Asian stocks mostly advanced on Thursday, led by a sharp rally in Japanese semiconductor shares after upbeat Micron Technology earnings. Softer U.S. inflation data also supported sentiment by reducing expectations for another Federal Reserve interest rate hike in October.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2.5%, while the broader TOPIX gained 0.2%. Chip stocks drove the rally, with Advantest jumping nearly 8%, Kioxia Holdings rising 4.2% and Tokyo Electron climbing about 5%.
The gains followed Micron Technology’s stronger outlook. The U.S. memory-chip maker forecast first-quarter revenue above analysts’ expectations, reinforcing optimism that artificial intelligence investment will continue fueling semiconductor demand.
Elsewhere, Taiwan’s benchmark index rose 0.3%, with TSMC gaining 1%. South Korea’s KOSPI advanced 0.9% as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix climbed 1% and 1.6%, respectively. South Korean exports surged 83.5% year-over-year, beating forecasts as semiconductor shipments reached a record high amid strong global AI spending.
India’s Nifty 50 slipped 0.3%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index was largely unchanged. Markets in mainland China and Hong Kong were closed for the National Day holiday, with mainland exchanges scheduled to reopen on October 8.
Australia underperformed the region, with the S&P/ASX 200 falling 2%. The country’s August trade surplus narrowed sharply to A$495 million from a revised A$1.351 billion in July, well below expectations of about A$2 billion. Exports increased 3.7% month-over-month, while imports climbed 5.8%.
Investor sentiment also benefited from U.S. PCE inflation data. The price index rose 0.3% in August, below the expected 0.4%, while annual inflation stood at 2.6%. Core PCE increased 0.2% monthly, easing pressure on the Fed to raise rates again in October.
Regional gains remained restrained by elevated bond yields and oil prices, with Brent crude hovering near $100 a barrel amid stalled U.S.-Iran talks and concerns over prolonged Middle East supply disruptions.
