Susanna Riva In just a few days, the world's major stock markets have shown clear upward momentum. The combination of favorable data, optimism surrounding artificial intelligence ( AI ), and the recovery of the semiconductor sector have pushed markets in Tokyo , Seoul , and Europe to positive results.
Tokyo: Nikkei starts with a plus sign
At the opening of the Japanese trading session, the Nikkei rose 0,44% , reaching 62.465,69 points (+276 points). The Topix followed suit, advancing 0,86% to 4.043,73 points . The appreciation was mainly driven by AI and semiconductor- related stocks , benefiting from the positive performance of the main US indices, where the Nasdaq and S&P 500 recorded solid gains following the announcement of the possible IPO of Anthropic.
On the currency market, the yen weakened, slipping to 157,40 per dollar, while holding steady around 176 per euro.
Seoul: Kospi rises more than 3%
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed the day with a surprising 3,29% gain , settling at 5.736 points. The jump was driven by the semiconductor segment , which benefited from resurgent global demand and a climate of confidence generated by positive performances in Asian markets.
The Kospi Energy was the best performer of the week so far, reclaiming its closing low in six months.
Europe: Major markets close in the red
European stock markets closed the week on a positive note. In Milan , the FTSE MIB closed up 1,29% , giving Italian stocks a "pink jersey." Paris rose 0,83% to 7.847 points, London gained 0,72% to 10.767 points, while Frankfurt recorded a 0,91% gain to 25.408 points. The decline in bond yields, particularly the return of the French ten-year government bond below the 5% threshold (4,90%), supported investor confidence. Furthermore, attention focused on upcoming central bank decisions: the Fed , the ECB , and the BoJ are due on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with the ECB ready to keep rates on hold but with the possibility of a rate hike in December.
Risk dynamics and market propensity
The improvement in risk appetite was fueled by the previous week's recent losses, triggered by concerns about the sustainability of AI investments . Investors are now awaiting the earnings reports of US tech giants to see whether the recovery is consolidated. The combination of lower government bond yields , growth in the auto and luxury sectors (+ 1,7% and 1,6% respectively), and a rising banking sector (+ 1,1% ) contributed to a week of widespread optimism.
The synergy between AI , semiconductors , and a seemingly more accommodative monetary policy has created the conditions for a global rebound in stock markets. Investors will need to closely monitor decisions by the Fed , the ECB , and the Bank of Japan , as well as the quarterly performance of major tech companies, to assess the sustainability of this momentum.