Asian markets edge higher as tech rally offsets US tariff uncertainty

Most Asian currencies and equities edged higher on Thursday, led by the South Korean won and Seoul stocks, as a softer dollar and buoyant tech sentiment offset lingering uncertainty over Washington’s latest tariff plans.

The won rose as much as 0.6% to 1,419.4 per U.S. dollar, while the benchmark KOSPI climbed for a sixth straight session to a record 6,221.92 points.

The Bank of Korea held interest rates for a sixth consecutive meeting, as expected, and signalled policy was likely to stay on hold over the next six months, citing a chip-led export boom and steady inflation. The won is up more than 1% so far this year, supported by tech-related inflows.

Risk appetite was also buoyed by better-than-expected earnings from Nvidia, lifting regional equity benchmarks and easing fears that higher trade barriers could crimp global demand.…Read more by