AI rally lifts Asia stocks as Israel-Iran de-escalation broadens risk appeal

Asian shares edged higher as AI-related tech gains supported sentiment and tensions between Israel and Iran cooled; South Korea’s KOSPI rose about 3% led by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix amid a Nvidia partnership, Japan’s Nikkei gained roughly 0.9% with chipmakers like Tokyo Electron rallying, and Chinese markets rose on stronger May exports; Hong Kong slipped, Australia’s ASX 200 fell, and India’s Nifty 50 futures edged lower.