Most Asian stock markets moved higher on Monday, buoyed by strong performance in chipmakers and hopes for diplomacy between Washington and Beijing, even as the conflict in the Middle East kept energy prices elevated.
Markets appeared to look past heightened regional tensions in the Middle East, with the rally in semiconductor shares and the confirmation of a U.S.-China summit helping to offset a sharp rise in oil. Traders were also cautious ahead of incoming U.S. inflation data, with the consumer price index for the United States due on Tuesday.
Chinese equities advanced after state media confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing between May 13 and 15. The meeting represents the first major visit by a U.S. head of state to the Chinese capital in nearly a decade and is expected to include discussions of trade tariffs, Taiwan, and potentially the war in the Middle East. The two leaders are also likely to extend a trade truce that was reached in October 2025.
China's Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index rose 1.2% on the session, while the Shanghai Composite climbed 0.7%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index moved in the opposite direction, falling 0.4%.
Chinese government data released for April showed consumer price index inflation higher than expected, and the producer price index spiking to a near four-year high. Officials attributed much of the increase to rising import costs tied to unrest in the Middle East.
South Korea's KOSPI was the regional standout, surging almost 5% to reach a record high. The advance extended a recent rally in chipmaking shares that has been driven in part by strong gains among U.S. peers. Memory chip suppliers have enjoyed outsized demand from the artificial intelligence sector this year, contributing to a supply shortage and upward pressure on prices.
Within South Korea, SK Hynix Inc (KS:000660) jumped nearly 12%, while Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930) gained almost 6%, with both names reaching record highs during the session.
Elsewhere in Asia, broader indices showed mixed results. Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4%, weighed down by a near 9% drop in Nintendo Co Ltd (TYO:7974) after the videogame maker reported earnings and offered guidance that disappointed investors. Japan's TOPIX index was flat on the day.
In Australia, the ASX 200 declined 0.7%, with significant weakness in CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) following an unexpected cut to the company's annual guidance. Singapore's Straits Times index eked out a small gain.
Futures for India's Nifty 50 index fell about 1% in early Asian trade, reflecting increased caution after Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of economic fallout from the Middle East conflict. The region's sensitivity to rising oil costs was underlined by the Indian outlook, given the country's substantial reliance on oil and gas imports from the Middle East.
S&P 500 futures dipped roughly 0.1% in Asian trading, easing off record highs reached on Wall Street last Friday. Market attention remained on the near-term inflation data point from the United States and on geopolitical developments.
Hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz showed signs of escalation over the weekend, and U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran's response to a 14-point peace proposal. The renewed military activity contributed to a sharp rise in oil prices on Monday.
Investors balanced the upside from technology and semiconductor shares with the risks posed by higher energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty. The semiconductor sector's momentum - especially in memory chips tied to AI demand - was a primary market driver, supporting indices in China and South Korea despite the broader global risk backdrop.
Market implications
- Semiconductor and technology stocks provided the principal support for regional equity gains, most notably lifting South Korea's KOSPI to a record.
- Energy and commodity-sensitive markets were pressured by rising oil prices as military tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
- Investor focus remains split between near-term macro data, notably the U.S. CPI release, and geopolitical developments that could influence import costs and corporate guidance.