Asia markets rally, Nikkei hits fresh record

February 26, 2026 (MLN): Asia markets strengthened on Thursday, led by a fresh record high in Japan, as optimism around pro-growth Japanese policies and a tech-driven surge on Wall Street boosted sentiment across the region.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 advanced 1.1% to close at a historic 59,199.31, marked its third consecutive session of record finishes.

The broader Topix climbed 1.45%, also touching an all-time high, as buying momentum accelerated under the so-called “Takaichi trade,” according to CNBC.

The rally follows the Japanese government’s nomination of Ayano Sato of Aoyama Gakuin University and Toichiro Asada of Chuo University to the central bank’s policy board.

Both are regarded as dovish policymakers, aligning with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s growth-focused agenda. They will replace outgoing board members Asahi Noguchi and Junko Nakagawa later this year.

Market have increasingly priced in continued accommodative monetary policy and fiscal support, viewing Takaichi’s economic stance as a continuation of Abenomics-style stimulus.

The approach is widely seen as supportive for equities while exerting downward pressure on the yen.

Elsewhere in Asia-Pacific, South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.65%, while the tech-heavy Kosdaq gained 0.57%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.8%, briefly hitting a new intraday record.

In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.62%, and mainland China’s CSI 300 edged down 0.2%.

South Korea’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5%, in line with market expectations, signaling a cautious stance amid global uncertainties.

Technology stocks across the region advanced after robust earnings from Nvidia eased concerns over a potential slowdown in artificial intelligence-related demand.

The chipmaker reported fiscal fourth-quarter results that exceeded estimates, driven by a 75% year-on-year surge in data center revenue.

Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.62, beating forecasts of $1.53, while revenue reached $68.13bn, topping expectations of $66.21bn.

The upbeat results lifted Asian semiconductor shares. South Korea’s SK Hynix, a major supplier of high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI systems, gained more than 2%.

Samsung Electronics, a long-standing partner of Nvidia, surged around 5%. Other tech names rallied sharply, with LG Innotek jumping nearly 14% and Seoul Semiconductor climbing 13%.

In Japan, the Topix Information & Communication index rose 2.6%, extending gains from the previous session.

Overnight in the United States, Wall Street closed higher as strong corporate earnings reinforced investor confidence.

The S&P 500 rose 0.81% to 6,946.13, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.26% to 23,152.08.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.63% to 49,482.15.

With supportive policy signals in Japan and resilient AI-driven earnings momentum in the U.S., Asian markets remain buoyant as global investors rotate back into technology and growth-oriented equities.

Copyright Mettis Link News