Nikkei Soars 21% to Record High in Standout Q1 for Asian Stocks; TSMC, SK Hynix Rally on AI Demand
• Nikkei 225 was the best performing Asian index in Q1, surging over 21% to record highs on BOJ stimulus and strong corporate profits • Taiwanese stocks rose 11% in Q1, driven by gains in semiconductor firms like TSMC on growing AI hype • SK Hynix also benefited from AI demand, with its stock jumping 27% to record highs • Broader Asian indexes saw muted gains in Q1, though China got a small boost from stimulus optimism • Australia's ASX 200 rose 3.5%, led by tech and banks, but was held back by declines in mining stocks