Asian stock markets were mostly higher on Thursday, buoyed by gains in artificial intelligence-related shares, including computer chipmakers, following a rally on Wall Street. US futures showed little movement, while oil prices edged slightly lower.

Regional Markets Mostly Higher

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.6 percent to close at 68,601.21. South Korea’s Kospi index saw the sharpest gains in the region, jumping 4 percent to 6,844.65, driven by a 5.4 percent surge in Samsung Electronics shares and a 7.1 percent rise for chipmaker SK Hynix. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.3 percent to reach 3,967.28, while mainland China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.5 percent to 3,967.65. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was the exception, slipping 0.4 percent to 9,155.80.

Wall Street’s AI-Driven Rally

The regional gains tracked a rally on Wall Street on Wednesday, where several AI-related companies posted stronger-than-expected spring earnings. That performance coincided with a US inflation report showing price growth broadly in line with forecasts for a modest improvement.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3 percent, marking its first gain since reaching an all-time high the previous Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped less than 0.1 percent, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5 percent. Shares of AI technology companies led the advance, as strong profit reports bolstered investor confidence that the sector can continue delivering growth substantial enough to justify the sharp price gains many of these stocks have posted.

A Volatile Sector Under Scrutiny

AI-related stocks have experienced significant swings in recent trading, alternating between record highs and pullbacks driven by concerns that valuations have climbed too far, too fast. Investors continue to watch closely for evidence that companies making large investments in AI can translate that spending into profits and productivity gains substantial enough to justify the outlay — a dynamic that could, in turn, sustain demand for computer chips and other AI infrastructure going forward.