Asian stocks rise on Wall Street records and U.S.-Japan trade deal optimism

Asian markets ended higher, buoyed by Wall Street’s fresh record highs and optimism over the newly signed U.S.-Japan trade agreement, with further deals expected before August. Tech stocks, especially AI-linked names, led the advance, supported by strong earnings from Big Tech firms like Alphabet and U.S. President Trump’s political backing for AI development.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.55%, Shenzhen rose 0.52%, and Hong Kong added 0.71%. Seoul was nearly flat (+0.06%), while Mumbai (-0.24%) and Sydney (-0.26%) edged lower. Currency markets were steady, with the euro showing minimal changes against the yen, yuan, and Hong Kong dollar. Japanese 10-year yields stood at 1.6%, and Chinese 10-year bonds at 1.72%.