STOCKS | Asian Equities Rally as Chipmakers Surge on Middle East Peace Deal Hopes

Asian equities rallied on Friday, led by chipmakers, as risk appetite returned on hopes a Middle East peace deal may materialise. U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend, according to RTHK, helping lift AI-heavy gauges in South Korea. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 468 points, or 1.9%, to 24,718 on turnover of HK$316.44 billion, while the Hang Seng Tech Index gained 49 points, or 1.1%, to 4,705 and the China Enterprises Index added 157 points, or 1.9%, to 8,374. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 44 points, or 1.12%, to 4,031 on turnover of 1.54 trillion yuan. The Shenzhen Component Index rose 111 points, or 0.75%, to 14,963 on turnover of 1.68 trillion yuan, and the ChiNext Index gained 19 points, or 0.5%, to 3,830 on turnover of 805.74 billion yuan. In Tokyo, the Nikkei jumped 1,802 points, or 2.81%, to 66,020 after rising as much as 4.4% earlier, while the Topix added 51 points, or 1.35%, to 3,881. In Seoul, the Kospi closed up almost 360 points, or 4.63%, at 8,123 after rising up to 8.6% during the session, triggering a "sidecar" trading curb.