Stocks Begin 2026 Positively on Silver and Tech Jumps – Asia Market Wrap

Stocks began the new year with AI and chip manufacturing once again dominating market movements. Precious metals, another hot segment of the industry in 2025, have also advanced.

Asian equities rose 0.9%, with internet and semiconductor sectors leading the way and a regional technology indicator setting a new high. Samsung has reached an all-time high. Baidu rose 7.5% after its chip subsidiary filed for an IPO, while Shanghai Biren, an AI chip designer, quadrupled on its Hong Kong market debut.

Equity-index futures for the Nasdaq 100 Index rose 0.7%, while contracts for Europe predicted a worse open.

Commodities were in focus, with spot gold up 1.3% and silver up 2.5%, extending their greatest annual returns since 1979. Copper was also rose.

In other market news, cryptocurrencies rose, while Australia’s sovereign bonds fell along with a Dollar index. Treasuries saw no cash trade during Asian hours owing to a Japanese vacation. Markets across mainland China were also closed.