Asian stocks set to gain on resurgent AI optimism

Asian stocks appeared set to rise on Wednesday (Oct 28) as renewed optimism for artificial intelligence fueled equity gains ahead of earnings from industry leaders and the Federal Reserve's rate decision. US equity-index futures for Australia, Japan, and South Korea rose after a key gauge of US chipmakers jumped 3.6%. US stock futures held steady as the Nasdaq 100 surged 1.3% and the S&P 500 gained 0.6%.

Meta Platforms' US$25 billion share sale attracted five times the demand, while Oracle broadened its OpenAI partnership. Major players Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon.com are anticipated to report strong growth this week. US oil remained near its previous session's lows, with Brent trading below US$114 a barrel. Treasuries showed minimal movement, while the US dollar strengthened.

The resurgence in AI enthusiasm stems from a series of deals and fundraising rounds that highlight the industry's continued investment. Meta's US$98 billion capital raise, SpaceX's US$40 billion equipment-finance lease, and Anthropic's S-1 filing contributed to alleviating concerns about potential instability among smaller firms.

Analysts view the AI news as a relief rally after three weeks of pressure on the sector. Fed policymakers are expected to maintain interest rates steady on Wednesday, providing a breather before possible future hikes. The Fed's decision follows a surprise rise in US consumer confidence in October, driven by optimism about the labor market and business conditions.

Despite the positive sentiment, some economists believe the market may be underestimating the risks of an interest rate hike.