Asian equity makets ended Tuesday on divergent notes, with Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's KOSPI rallying on strong semiconductor and AI‑related earnings, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped modestly. The moves came after a partial rebound on Wall Street, but they unfolded against lingering concerns over overheated AI stock valuations and volatile oil prices tied to Middle East tensions .

Tokyo Electron’s 7.5% surge fuels Nikkei rally

Tokyo Electron, a leading maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, jumped 7.5 % on the day, propelling the Nikkei 225 up 1 % to close at 64,654.22. According to the source report, the stock’s outperformance highlighted renewed investor confidence in the tech supply chain after a week of broad sell‑offs. The rally helped offset weaker performances elsewhere in the index and underscored how a single heavyweight can sway market sentiment in Japan.

SK Hynix jumps 7.7% after Nvidia data‑center pact

South Korea’s KOSPI surged 3.5 % to 7,743.65, driven largely by SK Hynix’s 7.7 % gain following the announcement of a strategic partnership with Nvidia to build data‑center infrastructure. The source noted that the deal signals expanding demand for memory chips that power AI workloads, reinforcing South Korea’s position as a critical node in the global AI hardware ecoysstem. Samsung Electronics also added 3.6 %, further cementing the tech‑heavy bias in the Korean market.

Marvell Technology’s 9.6% post‑S&P 500 debut sparks valuation debate

Marvell Technology rallied 9.6 % in its first session after being added to the S&P 500, a move that reignited criticism over soaring AI‑related valuations. The source cited Jensen Huang’s recent comments that Marvell could become “the next trillion‑dollar company,” which have been linked to a 200 % surge in the stock’s price since 2026. market observers warn that such rapid appreciation may be detached from fundamentals, especially as a widely tracked semiconductor index has already climbed nearly 85 % this year.

Brent crude slides to $93.84 as Middle East tension lingers

Energy markets added a layer of uncertainty when Brent crude fell 41 cents to $93.84 per barrel after briefly breaching $98. The source attributed the price retreat to easing but still elevated geopolitical risk stemming from the Iran‑related conflict in the Middle East. Higher oil prices have already strained the global economic outlook, creating a headwind for energy‑importing economies while offering a modest boost to exporters.

Will AI‑chip valuations stay inflated?

Analysts remain split on whether the current AI‑chip rally can sustain its momentum. The source highlighted two unresolved points: (1) the extent to which Nvidia’s partnership pipeline will translate into durable revenue growth for firms like SK Hynix, and (2) whether investor enthusiasm, fueled by executive hype, will temper as earnings data materialise. No clear guidance from the companies themselves was provided, leaving investors to weigh optimism against valuation risk.