Asian stocks climbed to a record as investors doubled down on the artificial-intelligence trade that has powered global equities to all-time highs. The yen hovered near 160 per dollar.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.7 per cent to an all-time high, as technology shares rallied and chipmaker Tokyo Electron Ltd. jumped 10 per cent. Taiwan’s benchmark gauge advanced 1.8 per cent to a record, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. climbing to a peak. South Korean markets were shut for a holiday.
The Asian gains came after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 hit record highs, with an index of chipmakers rising nearly 6 per cent. Technology remained in focus with SpaceX seeking $135 a share for a $75 billion initial public offering, according to Reuters.
Even so, caution crept in as Brent crude rose 1 per cent to $97 a barrel on pessimism over the prospects of the US and Iran reaching a peace deal and as fresh fighting flared up in the Middle East.
Investors piling into AI-linked stocks have propelled global equities to record highs, with expectations for a deal to end the war that has rattled markets worldwide providing an additional boost. Traders have looked past concerns about elevated valuations, betting that strong earnings growth and easing geopolitical tensions will continue to support risk assets.
“Tech continues to dominate the market,” said veteran strategist Louis Navellier. “The trend remains positive, with the catalyst for further material gains possible with a resolution with Iran.”
“While further exchanges in Iran initially dented risk appetite and lifted WTI toward $96 a barrel in early Asia trading, crude has since pared some of those gains, providing a timely boost to market sentiment at the opening bell.”
— David Savage, Macro Squawk. For more on the analysis, click here.
Focus in Asia is on the yen as traders awaited Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda’s planned speech for clues on the outlook for interest rates. Traders are reluctant to push the yen beyond the key 160 level against the dollar in the face of the risk of intervention by authorities to prop up the currency.
In other corners of the market, gold edged lower to about $4,480 an ounce as inflation worries fueled expectations that borrowing costs will stay elevated for longer. Bitcoin slid to around $66,500.
Treasuries edged lower with the yield on the 10-year bond rising one basis point to 4.45 per cent. The first of three labour-market reports due this week reinforced wagers that the Federal Reserve’s next move will be to raise interest rates.
In tariff news, the US is proposing levies of at least 10 per cent on imports from most major trading partners following an investigation into forced-labour practices, as President Donald Trump seeks to rebuild the sweeping tariff wall struck down by the US Supreme Court.
Elsewhere, Cliffwater LLC’s flagship private credit fund capped redemptions at 5 per cent in the second quarter after investors looked to pull about 17 per cent of shares, in a sign of enduring pressure on the $1.8 trillion market.
Meanwhile, Trump remained optimistic the US can reach an interim peace deal soon. He disputed reports in Iranian state media that said talks with Washington had been suspended over the fighting in Lebanon, saying the two sides have been “continuously” having conversations, including “today.”
Tensions remained high in the region as US forces defeated multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and conducted self-defense strikes on Qeshm Island in response to attempted attacks by Iran.
The primary focus for the oil market remains the Strait of Hormuz, which handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows before the war began — with visible commercial traffic through the waterway remaining limited.
Even as businesses navigated rising energy costs sparked by the Iran war, US job openings jumped in April to the highest level in almost two years and layoffs fell, adding to signs the labor market remained resilient.
“The jobs market continues to hold its ground,” said Bret Kenwell at eToro. “There’s hope that energy prices will retreat after a geopolitically charged surge in the first quarter, allowing the Fed to stay on hold while inflation eases in the second half of the year. Pair that with rising earnings expectations, and it could help propel stock prices higher.”
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Published on June 3, 2026
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。