On Friday (10 July, 9:58 AM, GMT+7, Bangkok time), major indices in the Asia Pacific advanced as renewed enthusiasm for semiconductor firms drew investors back to technology stocks. This rebound followed a recent pullback in chip shares, with sentiment improving on the view that demand related to artificial intelligence continues to underpin the sector.
Gains among major U.S. chipmakers provided additional momentum, reinforcing confidence that robust earnings within technology could help support broader market growth beyond the sector.
Market participants also took into account developments on the geopolitical front, with fresh hopes for diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran. According to officials cited by MS NOW, both Qatari and Pakistani mediators are facilitating efforts to initiate dialogue between Washington and Tehran. President Donald Trump indicated that Iran had reached out with proposals to return to negotiations.
Japan’s NIKKEI surged 1.77% to 68,943.76. South Korea’s KOSPI soared by 3.89% to 7,575.74, and Australia’s ASX 200 rose by 0.60% to 8,814.70.
As for stocks in China, Shanghai’s SSEC grew by 0.56% to 4,059.07. Shenzhen’s SZI increased by 0.58% to 15,487.95, and Hong Kong’s HSI jumped by 1.51% to 24,393.99.
The U.S. stock markets edged up on Thursday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) climbed by 0.27% to 52,487.41. NASDAQ gained 1.30% to 26,206.89, and S&P 500 added 0.81% to 7,543.64. VIX dropped by 6.27% to 15.84.
As for commodities, oil prices settled lower on Thursday amid concerns that persistent inflation and broader economic challenges may dampen worldwide crude demand, even as supply remains tight due to the ongoing U.S.-Iran standoff. Brent crude settled $1.72 lower, down 2.2% at $76.30 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate finished $1.44 lower, a 2.0% drop to $72.08 per barrel.
This morning, Brent futures rose 18 cents, or 0.24%, to $76.48 per barrel, and the WTI futures increased 21 cents, or 0.29%, to $72.29 per barrel.
Meanwhile, gold futures slid by 0.13% to $4,135.40 per Troy ounce.
