Asian stock markets mostly advanced on Thursday, October 1, as investors continued to show interest in technology and artificial intelligence-related companies. Japan led regional gains, with the Nikkei 225 rising strongly, while South Korea’s Kospi also moved higher.
In Japan, shares of chip and AI-linked companies such as Advantest, Tokyo Electron and SoftBank gained amid expectations of continued demand for semiconductors and AI infrastructure. South Korea’s technology-heavy market was also supported by strength in semiconductor stocks.
The gains came despite ongoing concerns over geopolitical tensions, elevated oil prices and high global bond yields. Markets in Hong Kong and mainland China were closed for a national holiday on Thursday, while investors continued to monitor developments in the global economy and the technology sector.