Asian markets kicked off 2026 on a positive note on Friday, though trading volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed for holidays, leaving investors waiting for fresh cues from Wall Street, reports AFP.
Global equities capped a bumper 2025, with the S&P 500 gaining 16.4 percent, the tech-heavy Nasdaq surging 20.4 percent and London’s FTSE 100 enjoying its strongest Christmas period in 16 years.
Asia also enjoyed a stellar year. Seoul stocks soared 75 percent in 2025, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index jumped 28 percent and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed more than 26 percent.
“Naturally, the start of a new year brings the question everyone asks: will this continue? The consensus is yes,” said Kyle Rodda, a senior analyst at Australian brokerage Capital.com.
“When it comes to the all-important US economy, Wall Street is pricing in accelerating growth this year while inflation continues to moderate and interest rates are cut. At the same time, analysts expect corporate fundamentals to improve,” he added.
Hong Kong led regional gains on Friday, rising 2.2 percent, helped by an 80 percent surge in chip designer Biren Technologies following its initial public offering. The Shanghai-based firm raised more than $700 million, highlighting strong investor appetite for artificial intelligence-related stocks.
Biren “enjoys scarcity value and strong market attention,” said Kenny Ng, a strategist at China Everbright Securities. “The industry is in a flourishing stage, with many companies pursuing breakthroughs and offering significant growth potential.”
Search-engine giant Baidu jumped nearly seven percent after announcing that its AI chip unit, Kunlunxin, had filed a listing application in Hong Kong.
Elsewhere, markets in Taipei, Sydney, Jakarta, Manila and Singapore also advanced. Seoul’s Kospi — which surged 76 percent in 2025 largely on the back of the AI boom — gained a further 1.7 percent.
Samsung Electronics added three percent after co-CEO Jun Young Hyun said customers had praised its high-bandwidth memory chips, with some commenting that “Samsung is back,” according to Bloomberg News.
After recent volatility driven by record highs in silver, precious metals began the new year on a firmer footing, with gold rising 0.64 percent per ounce and silver gaining 1.5 percent.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
