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Asian indices showed divergent performance on February 24, 2026, as investors balanced the continued surge in artificial intelligence demand against renewed fears of trade tariffs. While tech-heavy indices like the Nikkei 225 found support from semiconductor leaders, the Hang Seng and other regional benchmarks faced headwinds from potential trade restrictions.
Global markets are entering a new phase of the AI trade, moving beyond the 'picks and shovels' rally to a targeted sell-off of companies deemed vulnerable to AI disruption. While Wall Street's 'AI losers' faced heavy selling, Asian indices showed a mixed response as investors weighed local tech resilience against global macro headwinds.
Japanese equities are poised for a cautious start as investors weigh a lackluster lead from Wall Street against a fluctuating Yen. Market participants remain focused on upcoming central bank signals and the resilience of the domestic export sector following a period of aggressive outperformance.