Asian markets rose on Thursday after Nvidia's strong earnings lifted sentiment across tech-heavy bourses, while the dollar firmed as investors awaited delayed US jobs data. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan led gains after CEO Jensen Huang highlighted surging demand for the company's AI chips and dismissed concerns of an AI bubble, supported by a revenue forecast well above Wall Street expectations. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 jumped 4.2 per cent, South Korea's Kospi rose 3.3 per cent and Taiwan's benchmark added 3.4 per cent. Major chipmakers also rallied, with TSMC up 4.3 per cent, Samsung Electronics advancing 5.1 per cent, SK Hynix gaining 4.5 per cent and Tokyo Electron rising 5.4 per cent. MSCI's Asia-Pacific index outside Japan climbed 1.2 per cent, while S&P 500 futures rose 1.3 per cent. Sentiment followed a rebound on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors reassessed recent fears over AI valuations. Chinese markets lagged, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipping 0.1 per cent and the CSI300 flattening after earlier gains, after the People's Bank of China kept lending rates unchanged for a sixth month amid concerns about economic recovery. The US dollar index rose 0.2 per cent to 100.3, while the 10-year Treasury yield edged up to 4.1405 per cent. Investors are awaiting September's delayed US jobs report later in the day, with futures pricing a 33 per cent chance of a December rate cut after the Federal Reserve's October minutes signalled caution over inflation risks. The November jobs report delay to December 16 has also reduced expectations for near-term policy easing. The yen weakened to 157.48 per dollar, extending losses since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's election, and hit a record low against the euro. The euro slipped to $1.1517. Bitcoin and ether rose around 2 per cent each. Attribution: Reuters
