Wall Street’s fears of business disruption caused by artificial intelligence are turning into a blessing for Asian stocks, fueling demand for the region’s leading chipmakers that dominate the industry’s supply chain.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index has risen more than 12% in 2026, in contrast to losses in US benchmarks as shares were sold off on fears that AI models may threaten the business of software, legal and real estate service providers. The S&P 500 is down 0.2% for the year, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 gauge has lost around 2%.

The divergence underscores global funds’ shift of preference from AI pioneers burdened by massive spending toward hardware producers with strong pricing power, many of whom are in Asia. Surging memory chip prices have been a boon for the region’s heavyweights such as Samsung Electronics Co., while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s irreplaceable role as the world’s leading contract chipmaker has provided support for Taiwanese stocks.

“The main worry of the US is hyperscaler spending money,” said Richard Tang, head of research Hong Kong at Julius Baer. “Most of Asia’s tech exposure is upstream. Whoever wins in the end, upstream will still collect revenue from downstream players.”

The heavy presence in Asia of advanced chip manufacturers, semiconductor foundries and assemblers, which are crucial to the AI infrastructure, is a key reason behind the region’s resilience during the recent rout on Wall Street. Micron Technology Inc.’s latest comments on memory chip supply tightness and Nvidia Corp.’s on sustainable spending have reinforced such a perception.
In a sign of growing foreign demand, Samsung Electronics saw its biggest overseas buying Thursday, sending its shares up 6.4%. They rose again on Friday. Meanwhile, global investors also notched their third-largest weekly purchase in Taiwanese stocks in a holiday-shortened week.Kioxia Holdings Corp.’s shares surged 15% on Friday after soaring AI demand helped the Japanese memory chipmaker deliver a better-than-anticipated results outlook.

That’s as the Nasdaq 100 Index fell 4.6% and shed about $1.5 trillion in market value over the past 10 sessions, hit by a selloff in software names and other stocks deemed at risk from new AI tools.

“Some of the scares in the US are also good news in Asia, particularly when thinking about what infrastructure is really needed to harness agentic AI,” Stephanie Aliaga, a global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, said in a Bloomberg TV interview. “What markets are really beginning to price in is this ChatGPT moment for AI agents.”

Major Asian chipmakers’ outsize weighting in local equities markets further amplifies their impact on stock moves.

TSMC alone is approaching a weighting of 45% in the island’s benchmark Taiex index, three times its level a decade ago. South Korea’s Kospi has become a near duopoly, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Inc. together making up nearly 40%.

While the so-called AI Scare Trade has also hurt US real estate services stocks and insurance brokers, there was less damage in Asia due to some of the local companies’ weaker response to cutting-edge technologies.

The Topix insurance sub-index has risen 6.2% since Feb. 3, with its real estate counterpart surging 15%.

“Old school wins the day so far,” said Andrew Jackson, head of Japan equity strategy at Ortus Advisors. “It’s protecting them from the AI disruption selloff because these industries are more entrenched in Japan and less open to disruption so far.”

As a result, the correlations between Asian and US equities based on weekly returns have slid to 0.43, the weakest level since June 2022, Bloomberg-compiled data show.

To be sure, Asia wasn’t entirely insulated from the global turmoil. Despite accounting for a small portion of the region’s stock markets, shares of software firms including Hong Kong-listed Kingdee International Software Group Co. and Indian tech services companies including Infosys Ltd. slumped along with their US peers during the recent sell-off.

But for now, Asian stocks are expected to continue their outperformance, thanks to the local companies’ different roles in the AI ecosystem, cheaper valuations and stronger earnings growth.

“What we are investing in are the AI enablers such as chip manufacturers,” said Elfreda Jonker, client portfolio manager at Alphinity Investment Management. “One of our big positions is TSMC, which we continue to like. All AI roads lead to TSMC.”

The Freeport Gateway scheme would provide 72,000 sq ft of new employment space

Plans for a major employment scheme at the Anglesey Freeport has secured a funding commitment of £3.48m from the North Wales Growth Deal after approval of its business case.

The £19.1m Freeport Gateway project would see will 72,000 sq ft of new employment floorspace that could support 233 jobs with a claimed economic impact of £65.4m by 2036.

As well as growth deal backing, the project has also secured £4m from the Anglesey Freeport Seed Capital Fund from UK and Welsh Government. The balance of the funding will be financed by a developer chosen to build the scheme at the former Eastman Peboc chemical factory site which closed in 2008 with the loss of 60 jobs.

Approval of the project means that project sponsor, Isle of Anglesey County Council is in a stronger position to acquire the site, where it plans to expand and improve access to the Tregarnedd Industrial Park.

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The Freeport Gateway site is part of the North Wales Growth Deal’s land property programme. The £1.1bn deal is overseen by statutory body Ambition North Wales on behalf of the region’s six local authorities.

Jason McLellan, lead member for Ambition North Wales’s land and property programme, and leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “These proposals would bring this site back into use, delivering real benefits for Llangefni and the wider region. With growth deal support, this former industrial site can be revitalised to create good-quality jobs. By improving infrastructure, adopting sustainable design, and aligning with Freeport plans, the project will strengthen the local economy and reinforce Anglesey as a location for business and innovation.”

Gary Pritchard, leader, Isle of Anglesey County Council added: “This project is of strategic importance to Ynys Môn. It supports both UK and Welsh Government Growth Deal objectives of promoting inward investment and using our Freeport status to increase demand for industrial development. Bringing the former Peboc site back into use and expanding Tregarnedd Industrial Park will create high-quality employment opportunities and strengthen our position as a we look to strengthen the island’s economy.”

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “This project will restore an important industrial site for use, delivering significant economic value for the region and its residents.

“With £120m in backing from the Welsh Government, the North Wales Growth Deal is delivering a transformation of the North Wales economy.”

Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin said: “Progress on delivering this vital project is great news for Anglesey. Bringing this site back into use for development will create new jobs and encourage investment, benefitting local people as we help grow the local economy.

“Investment from the UK Government via the North Wales Growth deal and Anglesey Freeport is helping unlock the potential of Anglesey, putting more money into the pockets of local people.”

The wider element to the Freeport Gateway project could see Isle of Anglesey Council constructing additional employment units on the adjacent Tregarnedd Industrial Park.

The growth deal aims to see £1bn of investment into the region’s economy, with £240m committed by the Welsh and UK governments. The deal’s projects are also seeking to secure co-investment of £721m from the private sector and £179m from the public sector.

China’s Bayi Aerobatic Team showcased a precise display at the Singapore Airshow, featuring six J-10C fighter jets flying in tight formations, trailing colorful smoke. The complex maneuvers marked the J-10C’s debut at the event, highlighting China’s advanced aviation capabilities.

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The Event and the 2026 Show

China’s Bayi Aerobatic Team put up a high-precision display featuring six J-10C fighter jets flying in ultra-tight formations at the Singapore Airshow on Saturday

Chinese Acrobatic Team Performance

The highlight of the event was the performance by the Chinese acrobatic team. Their act was incredibly exciting, demonstrated by their perfect formation and synchronized movements. They managed to keep their formation tight while flying at high speeds, which was both impressive and thrilling for viewers.

Skill and Control Demonstrated

The acrobats’ ability to maintain such precision under intense conditions reflects the pilots’ high skills and exceptional control over their aircraft. Their performance not only entertained but also served as a testament to advanced training and discipline, setting a high standard for future aerial shows.

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