Japan’s Nikkei index soared past 72,000 for the first time, fueled by enthusiastic AI investments that overshadowed concerns about US-Iran peace talks. The government’s ambitious plan to invest heavily in strategic sectors like AI and chips by 2040 further boosted market sentiment. Nonferrous metals and electric appliances were top performers, while J.Front Retailing surged on activist investor interest.
SK Hynix overtakes Samsung to become South Korea’s most valuable company
SK Hynix has surged past Samsung Electronics to become South Korea’s most valuable company, driven by its dominance in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips crucial for