Asian chip stocks climbed Friday after the U.S. reached a trade deal with Taiwan, bringing the island and South Korea’s index to record highs.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 deleted 174.33 points, or 0.3%, to 53,936.17.
Softbank Group, which has invested in various chip-related stocks, including chip designer Arm, reversed earlier gains to fall 1.01%.
Chip heavyweights Samsung Electronics gained 3.5% and SK Hynix picked up 0.9%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index retreated 78.66 points, or 0.3%, to 26,844.96.
State-linked semiconductor foundry firm SMIC was up 2.39%.
Under the agreement with the U.S., Taiwanese semiconductor companies committed to invest at least $250 billion in U.S. production capacity in exchange for lower “reciprocal” tariffs.
Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. rose 2.96% after the company delivered another record quarter, saying it expects to boost capital spending in 2026 to between $52 billion and $56 billion.
South Korea’s Kospi closed at a record high, marking its 11th straight day of gains.
In other markets
The CSI 300 in Shanghai faded 19.56 points, or 0.4%, to 4,731.87
In Korea, the Kospi gained 43.19 points, or 0.9%, to 4,840.74
In Taiwan, the Taiex vaulted 598.12 points, or 1.9%, to 31.408.70
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index tacked on 15.76 points, or 0.3%. to 4,849.10.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 pointed higher 58.31 points, or 0.4%, to 13,718.10.
In Australia, the ASX 200 advanced 42.18 points, or 0.5%, to 8,903.85.
