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July 23, 2026 - 02:55
5 minutes
(Bloomberg) — Asian shares advanced as regional chipmakers gained on expectations they will benefit from billions of dollars flowing into the artificial intelligence buildout. Oil extended its recent gains.MSCI’s Asia Pacific equities gauge climbed 0.7%, with South Korea’s Kospi — a bellwether for AI investments — rising more than 3%. Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. both gained more than 3% as investors bet the South Korean chipmakers will be among the beneficiaries of the global AI spending. Nasdaq 100 futures erased earlier losses that were sparked by Alphabet Inc.’s higher-than-expected capital spending plans.Still, caution lingered with Alphabet Inc. sliding more than 3% in extended trading after saying it would spend more to fuel its AI ambitions. Tesla Inc. dropped 4% after missing earnings estimates, while International Business Machines Corp. edged lower after it cut its full-year sales outlook.Oil advanced after Iran-backed Houthi militants said they targeted two Saudi Arabian tankers in the Red Sea, escalating the Middle East conflict and threatening deeper supply disruptions. Global benchmark Brent rose as much as 2.2% to $96.09 a barrel, the highest level since early June.Alphabet’s results mark the start of a critical test for the AI trade. After last week’s technology selloff, which sent a gauge of chipmakers into a bear market, earnings over the next two weeks will be scrutinized for signs that hundreds of billions of dollars invested in AI are beginning to generate commensurate returns.“We remain constructive on AI’s growth story, but we favor a more balanced exposure across the AI value chain — from semiconductors and hardware to megacap tech and more defensive areas of the industry,” said Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi at UBS Chief Investment Office. “Investors should also ensure diversification beyond AI.”Alphabet now expects capital spending to reach as much as $205 billion this year, eclipsing its previous guidance and far exceeding Wall Street expectations. The company is accelerating investment in AI computing capacity to meet surging demand, executives said in a call with analysts.Alphabet may be setting the tone for a sector that has collectively committed hundreds of billions of dollars to AI infrastructure. Investors will be watching next week’s results from Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. for guidance on capital spending.“AI optimism remains intact, but the burden of proof has shifted decisively onto management teams,” Mark Malek, chief investment officer at Siebert Financial, wrote in a note. “Future earnings calls will increasingly focus on return on invested capital rather than AI ambitions.”Elsewhere, yields on the Treasury two-year note held at 4.30%, having gained four basis points during the US session. The US 30-year bond yield has held above 5% for the longest stretch since the dawn of the financial crisis, echoing investor concerns about a growing debt pile and sticky inflation.Investors are also weighing geopolitical tensions. President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran continued attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with its own warning.The renewed escalation has fueled concerns that higher energy prices could keep inflation elevated and complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook. With the central bank meeting next week, money markets are pricing about a 30% chance of a rate increase and a 70% probability that policymakers hold steady. The European Central Bank announces a policy decision later Thursday.“Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East have effectively stalled as military strikes continue with no sign of easing,” said Ian Lyngen at BMO Capital Markets. “The rally in energy continues to weigh on the Treasury market as hostilities between the US and Iran intensify.”Corporate Highlights:Texas Instruments Inc., the biggest maker of analog and embedded processing chips, gave a sales forecast that topped estimates but failed to excite investors, who have bid up the company’s shares this year. Macquarie Group Ltd.’s Chief Executive Officer Shemara Wikramanayake will step down in November after eight years at the helm to be replaced by Greg Ward, who currently leads its banking and financial services division. Southwest Airlines Co. provided an outlook for the full year that exceeded projections, even as operating revenue for the second quarter missed analysts’ estimates. Some of the main moves in markets:StocksS&P 500 futures rose 0.1% as of 9:54 a.m. Tokyo time Hang Seng futures rose 0.3% Nikkei 225 futures (OSE) rose 1.4% Japan’s Topix rose 0.7% Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1% Euro Stoxx 50 futures were little changed CurrenciesThe Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed The euro was little changed at $1.1414 The Japanese yen was little changed at 163.08 per dollar The offshore yuan was little changed at 6.7731 per dollar CryptocurrenciesBitcoin rose 0.3% to $66,092.2 Ether rose 0.5% to $1,935.45 BondsThe yield on 10-year Treasuries was little changed at 4.65% Japan’s 10-year yield advanced two basis points to 2.755% Australia’s 10-year yield declined two basis points to 4.96% CommoditiesWest Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.2% to $87.86 a barrel Spot gold was little changed This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.©2026 Bloomberg L.P.
