Asia markets rise on Nvidia AI boost

March 17, 2026 (MLN): Asia markets higher on Tuesday, led by gains in technology and automobile stocks after Nvidia delivered a strong revenue outlook and unveiled new partnerships with regional automakers.

Investor sentiment was buoyed after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang projected that cumulative orders for its next-generation Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips could reach an estimated $1 trillion by 2027, according to CNBC.

The declaration, made at the company’s annual developer conference, reinforced optimism around long-term demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

Major chipmakers across the region posted solid gains. Shares of SK Hynix surged over 3%, while Samsung Electronics advanced more than 4%. Meanwhile, Taiwan-based TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, edged up around 1%.

Automobile stocks also moved higher after Nvidia announced collaborations with leading Asian carmakers to accelerate its autonomous driving initiatives.

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor jumped nearly 4.7%, while Japan’s Nissan Motor and Isuzu posted moderate gains.

Chinese electric vehicle giants also joined the rally, with BYD rising close to 3% and Geely climbing around 5%.

Market participants continued to track geopolitical developments surrounding tensions linked to the Iran conflict.

Crude prices rebounded after recent declines, with Brent crude gaining 2.45% to $102.57 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 2.51% to $95.85.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a possible delay in his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, citing ongoing Middle East tensions. The visit had initially been scheduled for late March.

Across Asia-Pacific, major indices ended in positive territory. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.27% as expectations grew that the central bank may raise interest rates to 4.1%, marking the highest level since April 2025.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.75%, while the broader Topix climbed over 1%. South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.94%, and the small-cap Kosdaq rose 1.53%.

In Greater China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 0.94%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 added 0.28%.

U.S. stock futures traded slightly lower after a strong overnight rebound on Wall Street. Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures also edged down.

In the previous session, U.S. equities closed higher as investors reacted to easing oil prices and improving risk sentiment. The Dow Jones rose 0.83%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.01% and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.22%.

Tech stocks remained in focus, with Meta Platforms gaining over 2% on reports of potential workforce reductions, while Nvidia shares extended gains following the launch of its GTC conference.

Global markets are increasingly being driven by the intersection of AI innovation and geopolitical developments.

While Nvidia’s bullish outlook has reignited investor enthusiasm in tech and auto sectors, uncertainty surrounding energy markets and geopolitical tensions may continue to influence near-term market direction.

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