ICMarket

Tuesday 17th March 2026: Asia-Pacific Stocks Rise as Nvidia Boosts Tech and Auto Sectors

Global Markets:

  •  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.40%, Shanghai Composite down 0.04% Hang Seng up 0.91% ASX up 0.30%
  • Commodities : Gold at $5,033.80 (0.63%) Silver at $81.470 (0.98%), Brent Oil at $103.11 (2.90%), WTI Oil at $95.31 (3.08%)
  • Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.235, UK 10-year yield at 4.7700, Germany 10-year yield at 2.9488

News & Data:

  • (CAD) CPI m/m 0.5%  to 0.7%  expected
  • (CAD) Trimmed CPI y/y 2.3%  to 2.4%  expected
  • (CAD) Median CPI y/y 2.3%  to 2.4%  expected

Markets Update:

 

Asia-Pacific markets moved higher on Tuesday, driven by strong gains in technology and automotive stocks following optimistic signals from Nvidia. The chipmaker projected robust demand for its next-generation processors and highlighted new partnerships with regional automakers, boosting investor sentiment across the sector.

South Korea’s SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics surged more than 3% and 4%, respectively, after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang forecast that orders for its Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips could total $1 trillion by 2027. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, also edged up around 1%.

Automakers joined the rally after Nvidia confirmed collaborations in autonomous vehicle development with companies including Hyundai Motor, Nissan Motor, Isuzu, China’s BYD, and Geely. Hyundai rose nearly 5%, while Geely gained about 5%, with other automakers posting moderate increases.

Regional markets broadly advanced. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.75%, while the Topix gained over 1%. South Korea’s Kospi jumped nearly 3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose close to 1%.

Meanwhile, investors kept a close watch on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices. In the U.S., stock futures were largely flat after a rebound on Wall Street, where major indices ended higher despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding global developments and energy markets.

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