Stocks in Asia climbed for a second day as a rebound in chipmakers at the heart of the artificial intelligence boom offset concerns over rising oil prices after the renewed escalation in the US-Iran conflict.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.8%, extending its biggest one-day gain in a month. The Kospi Index, a bellwether for AI investments, jumped over 5%. The regional gains followed the Nasdaq 100’s best session in three weeks, as a 5.2% surge in a key semiconductor gauge signaled renewed demand for beaten-down chipmakers.
