Asian Shares Mostly Higher; Nikkei Sets Another Record

Market Overview - Asian stocks ended mostly higher, driven by post-election optimism in Japan and a strong rebound in the sector [1] - The U.S. dollar index eased following reports of Chinese regulators limiting U.S. Treasury bond holdings [1] - Oil prices were subdued after a previous rise of over 1 percent due to a U.S. advisory warning of potential supply disruptions [1] Regional Indices - China's Shanghai Composite index increased by 0.13 percent to 4,128.37, fueled by stimulus expectations and investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence [2] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.58 percent to 27,183.15, led by gains in pharma and tech stocks [2] - The Nikkei average surged by 2.28 percent to 57,650.54, reaching a new record high amid rising equities and a recovering yen [3] - The broader Topix index settled 1.90 percent higher at 3,855.28, with expectations of increased government spending and tax cuts [3] Company Performance - SoftBank Group's stock soared by 10.7 percent ahead of its earnings results due on Thursday [4] - Furukawa Electric's shares jumped nearly 23 percent on robust earnings [4] - Seoul's Kospi average finished marginally higher at 5,301.69, with anticipation of U.S. retail sales, jobs, and inflation data that may influence Federal Reserve policy [4] Other Markets - Australian markets ended little changed after a relief rally, with software and data center stocks attracting fresh demand while healthcare stocks underperformed [5] - New Zealand's S&P/NZX-50 index rose by half a percent to 13,513.68 [5] - U.S. stocks ended on a firm note, with tech stocks rebounding from previous concerns regarding AI spending [5] U.S. Market Highlights - The Dow inched up marginally to reach a new record ahead of key earnings and economic data [6] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed by 0.9 percent, while the S&P 500 advanced by half a percent [6]