FX.co ★ Asian Stocks Fall on Tech Weakness

Asian equity markets mostly fell on Friday, mirroring sharp declines on Wall Street as investors grew increasingly doubtful that massive artificial intelligence spending will deliver adequate returns. Technology-heavy markets in Japan and South Korea led regional losses, with major chipmakers coming under pressure. Sentiment was further dampened as Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, stoking inflation worries and strengthening expectations of tighter US monetary policy. Investors also weighed new US tariffs of 10%–12.5% on imports from most major trading partners.