Asian Markets Rally on Semiconductor Rebound Amid Middle East Tensions

The regional advance is led by major semiconductor players. SK Hynix jumped 8.3%, while Samsung Electronics added 5.5%. In Japan, the Nikkei Stock Average climbed 1.6%, bolstered by double-digit gains at Kioxia Holdings and a 7.6% rise in Renesas Electronics shares. Analysts at Commerzbank attribute this shift to a return of risk appetite, as traders position themselves for upcoming corporate disclosures.

Simultaneously, energy markets face volatility as geopolitical instability tightens supply chains. West Texas Intermediate rose 0.5% to $84.79 a barrel, while Brent crude climbed 0.7% to $91.67. Reports indicate that the Strait of Hormuz remained largely deserted on Tuesday following recent attacks on tankers, including a projectile strike on a Kuwaiti vessel. With Houthi militants threatening a blockade and regional shipping disruptions mounting, the market is bracing for further energy supply constraints.