Asian stocks steady as AI, Middle East jitters recede

Asian markets and US equity futures made a steady start on Monday (Nov 9), after a wild week where doubts about demand for computer chips sent tech-heavy markets in Asia into some of their steepest falls in years.

A person rests in front of an electronic board displaying the Nikkei share average at a financial building in Tokyo on Jan 29, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo 09 Nov 2026 10:39AM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST HONG KONG: Asian markets and US equity futures made a steady start on Monday (Nov 9), wobbling into positive territory after a wild week where doubts about demand for computer chips sent tech-heavy markets in Asia into some of their steepest falls in years.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.8 per cent after sliding 4.6 per cent last week. Japan's Nikkei index added 2.5 per cent while Korean shares made small gains.

Taiwan's benchmark rose about 2.5 per cent after notching its heaviest weekly drop for two decades last week, when fears about AI profitability and infrastructure demand turned into a rout following wins by Democrats at US midterm polls.

US stock futures, the S&P 500 e-minis, were a touch higher. On Friday, Wall Street equities rallied to end a chaotic week after heavy AI-related selling, helping to calm some nerves.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Global stocks had already been on shaky ground in recent weeks with the AI trade crumbling in the face of rising interest rates, until the US midterm results unleashed deeper worries about increased regulation of AI and data centres.

Earnings reports due this week from tech companies including CoreWeave, Applied Materials and Cisco Systems are set to put the profitability of AI ambitions to the test amid the massive costs of the build-out.

Meanwhile, a company-led investigation by industry bellwether Nvidia into its CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with an alleged Chinese spy could also draw some volatility.

"The markets are far from being out of the woods yet," said Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.

"Following last week's midterm elections that have led to increased regulatory risk and an overall underwhelming earnings season that's seen Magnificent Seven companies miss earnings expectations, the momentum remains skewed to the downside," he added.

Elsewhere, Brent crude fell to US$97.49 per barrel after US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was highly unlikely to order fresh attacks on Iran as long as talks to end the conflict progress.

A blowout jobs report on Friday showed US employers added 165,000 jobs last month, more than twice economists' expectations and bolstering the case for the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in December. A US CPI reading due on Tuesday could further cement expectations for a hike next month.