AI boom drives Asia-Pacific stock markets higher; Nikkei sets new record, Tokyo Electron up 10%, TSMC hits new high, oil prices near $100.

```

The AI boom has once again sent Asia-Pacific stock markets to historic highs.

Asia-Pacific stocks rose across the board on Wednesday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged more than 2.5% intraday to 68,452 points, hitting a new all-time record. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index simultaneously climbed to a historical high, up 0.8%. Australia’s ASX200 increased by 0.62%. South Korea's market was closed for a public holiday. The core logic driving this round is still AI.

On the previous day, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both closed at record highs in the US, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index soared nearly 6% in a single day. This wave of tech enthusiasm spread overnight to Asia: Japanese chip equipment giant Tokyo Electron jumped 10% in a single day, Taiwan’s Weighted Index rose 1.7% to a new high, and TSMC stock also hit a peak.

Senior strategist Louis Navellier said: "Tech stocks continue to dominate the market, and the trend remains strong. If the Iran issue can be resolved, the market will have further catalysts for a significant rally."

Key asset movements:

Nikkei 225 set an all-time high, surging more than 2.5% to 68,452 points; the MSCI Asia-Pacific index also refreshed its historical high, with AI tech stocks as the core driving force.Tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz: The US Secretary of State said Iran has widely laid mines in the strait. Brent crude rose to $97/barrel, but overall market sentiment remains resilient.South Korean markets were closed for a public holiday. Australia’s ASX200 up 0.62%.The yen lingers at the 160 level as the market waits for BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s remarks; intervention risks make bears cautious.The previous day, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 in the US set all-time highs, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped nearly 6%.Gold edged down 0.3% to $4,475/oz. Bitcoin fell about 1.2% to $66,703, hovering near a two-month low, while Ethereum hit a three-month low.

Mines laid in the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices near $100

Market sentiment is not without cracks.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Rubio used strong words while testifying at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "They are firing at merchant ships and have widely laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz—that's international waters." This was his first appearance at a congressional hearing since the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28 this year.

A White House official later told CNBC that the Pentagon had destroyed a large number of naval mines and more than 40 minelaying vessels.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy transit chokepoint—before the war, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed through here. Currently, the visible flow of commercial shipping in the channel remains limited.

Oil prices rose accordingly. Brent crude futures climbed about 1% to $97/barrel, WTI crude rose about 1.2% to $94.86/barrel.

However, according to Bloomberg macro strategist David Savage, "The Iran situation initially weighed on risk appetite and pushed WTI toward $96/barrel, but oil prices then retreated somewhat, providing a timely boost for the Asian open."

At the same time, Trump remained optimistic about the prospects for negotiations. He denied reports from Iranian state media that bilateral talks had been suspended and said the two countries "remain" in contact, including “today”.

Yen stuck at 160, market awaits Ueda’s remarks

The yen hovered around 159.87, approaching the key psychological level of 160.

Traders are cautious about a break above 160 because officials could intervene at any time to support the yen. The market is waiting for Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda’s planned speech for clues about the outlook for interest rates.

In the bond market, the US 10-year Treasury yield edged up 1 basis point to 4.45%. US job openings for April jumped to a near two-year high, while layoffs fell. The resilience of the labor market further strengthened bets that the Fed’s next move could be a rate hike.

Bret Kenwell of eToro said: "The job market continues to hold firm. The market hopes energy prices will fall back after the first quarter’s geopolitical shocks, allowing the Fed to stay on hold while inflation cools in the second half. Coupled with upgraded earnings expectations, these factors could drive stocks higher."

Gold and Bitcoin fall

Gold edged down 0.3% to $4,475/oz, as inflation worries raise expectations that borrowing costs will remain high.

Bitcoin fell about 1.2% to $66,703, hovering near a two-month low, while Ethereum hit a three-month low.

According to analysis, ETF outflows and strategy reductions are only superficial reasons—the fundamental cause is that global capital now has more options: those worried about inflation are buying gold and energy, growth seekers are buying AI, and even investors wanting crypto exposure don’t have to stick to Bitcoin. The bear case for Bitcoin has changed—"scarcity is no longer enough."

Risk Warning and DisclaimerMarkets are risky; investments require caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it consider individual users’ specific investment goals, financial situations, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, views or conclusions in this article are suitable for their circumstances. Investing based on this is at your own risk. ```