SK Hynix reported a tripling of its third-quarter net profit, a result that served as a bellwether for the broader AI infrastructure market. The company’s decision to commit $75 billion to shareholder returns sent its shares climbing 9.1%, providing the necessary momentum to lift the South Korean Kospi index by 5.8%. This optimism rippled through the region, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 1.4% and Taiwan’s Taiex gaining 1.6% as chip manufacturers like TSMC and Advantest saw significant demand.

While equity markets responded to corporate earnings, fixed-income traders remained cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy statement. Government bond yields trended upward globally, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield adding 3.28 basis points. ANZ Research analysts noted that while the market anticipates a pause in tightening, persistent inflation concerns keep the Fed’s trajectory uncertain. Meanwhile, geopolitical instability in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher, as Brent crude rose 1.75% to $115.87 a barrel following reports of an attack near a major Saudi export terminal.