Asian shares mostly rise after buying of AI-related shares leads a rally
on Wall Street
[August 13, 2026] By
YURI KAGEYAMA
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Thursday, powered by
gains for AI-related stocks including computer chips as regional markets
tracked a rally on Wall Street.
U.S. futures were little changed and oil prices were slightly lower.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 advanced 1.6% to 68,601.21.
In South Korea, the Kospi jumped 4%, climbing to 6,844.65, as shares in
Samsung Electronics surged 5.4%. Computer chipmaker SK Hynix jumped
7.1%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.3% to 3,967.28, while the Shanghai
Composite index added 0.5% to 3,967.65.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.4% to 9,155.80.
On Wednesday, several AI-related companies reported better earnings for
the spring than analysts expected, while a report showed inflation
across the United States was in line with forecasts for a slight
improvement.
The S&P 500 rose 0.3% for its first gain since setting an all-time high
on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped less than 0.1%, and
the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5%.
Stocks in the artificial intelligence technology business helped lead
the way after strong profit reports raised hopes they can continue to
deliver big-enough growth to justify the huge gains their prices have
made.
AI stocks recently have been on a roller-coaster ride, surging to
records and then coming under pressure on worries that they have shot
too high. Investors want to see big spenders on AI prove their
investments are yielding enough in profits and productivity to make them
worth it. That in turn could lead to sustained demand for chips and
other AI infrastructure.
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A person stands in front of an electronic stock board showing
Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026,
in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
 Treasury yields fell after a report
showed that U.S. consumers paid prices for gasoline, groceries and
other costs of living last month that were 3.4% higher than a year
earlier. That’s higher than anyone would like, but it’s not as bad
as June’s 3.5% inflation rate.
The moderation in inflation could give the Federal Reserve more
leeway to hold off on hikes to interest rates. The Fed’s members are
notably split about whether they should have already begun hiking
interest rates. But Wednesday’s update on inflation pushed traders
to pull back on bets the Fed will hike its main interest rate at its
next meeting in September.
In other dealings early Thursday, benchmark U.S. crude dipped
slipped 0.3% to $83.06 a barrel. Brent crude, the international
standard, fell 0.1% to $88.89 a barrel, returning to where it has
traded in recent days.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar fell to 159.30 Japanese yen
from 159.42 yen. The euro cost $1.1526, down slightly from $1.1527
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