Asian Markets Stabilize as Tech Rebound Tempers AI Volatility

The sentiment improved after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed financial anxieties surrounding CoreWeave, the compute provider that had become a flashpoint for market jitters. While the rebound offers a reprieve, analysts warn that CoreWeave’s exposure to floating interest rates remains a point of vulnerability should the Federal Reserve maintain its hawkish trajectory. Investors are balancing these tech-driven fluctuations against regional performance, with South Korea’s Kospi leading the charge with a 3.1% gain, bolstered by strong showings from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Japan’s Nikkei added 1.6%, while Taiwan’s Taiex and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng followed suit with gains of 1.0% and 1.05%, respectively.

Energy and commodity markets presented a different picture, as oil futures slipped following the International Energy Agency’s commitment to accelerate the release of 100 million barrels of crude and diesel from emergency reserves. ING strategists noted that the scale of this release—particularly the volume of diesel—could invite future U.S. export restrictions if officials deem the current supply strategy insufficient. Consequently, West Texas Intermediate dropped to $97.34 a barrel, while Brent crude retreated to $105.44. Gold also faced downward pressure, sliding 0.4% to $4,154.01 per troy ounce, as persistent U.S. wholesale inflation data sharpened expectations for further interest rate hikes.