{ "id": 9060675, "title": "Tech rally boosts Asian stocks, dollar firms on rate-hike wagers", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/tech-rally-boosts-asian-stocks-dollar-firms-on-rate-hike-wagers", "topic": "finance", "section": "Finance & Markets", "published": "2026-09-22T02:12:26.000Z", "source": { "name": "Investing.com", "slug": "investing-com", "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/tech-rally-boosts-asian-stocks-dollar-firms-on-ratehike-wagers-4909825" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "Lower oil prices lifted Asian markets on Tuesday as investors grew hopeful about US-Iranian talks and pinned hope on possible further US interest rate hikes to curb inflation. Attention was directed towards a high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week, with investors eagerly awaiting signals that the two world leaders could prevent further deterioration in their relations. Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on Wednesday for his first visit to the United States in over a decade, amid optimism that a trade truce between China and the US may be extended and potential cooperation in artificial intelligence could be explored.\n\nBrent crude futures steadied at $100.22 per barrel after falling over 3% the previous day, dipping briefly below the crucial $100 mark. President Trump expressed openness to a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is expected to attend the UN General Assembly in New York this week, which helped bolster sentiment and contributed to a drop in bond yields.\n\nThe decline in oil prices played a significant role, according to Nick Twidale, chief market strategist at ATFX Global. Investors were also buoyed by the strong reception to Meta's Muse AI assistant, which has fueled expectations that millions of people might eventually utilize persistent AI agents. China’s blue-chip stock index increased by 0.75%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose by 0.4%. Chinese AI stocks also saw a surge.\n\nConfidence in the CPU demand profile was strengthened by Meta Muse, driving positive sentiment in the market. Lower crude prices, falling Treasury yields, and optimism surrounding the US-China summit contributed to this positive shift. Investors are also bracing for additional interest rate hikes and hawkish signals from major central banks, fueling expectations of further tightening later in the year. This development has bolstered the dollar and put pressure on the yen.\n\nThe yen traded at 157.39 per US dollar, close to a three-week low after falling from early-month gains driven by expectations of more aggressive Bank of Japan rate hikes. The Bank of Japan raised interest rates last week to a 31-year high, but dissenting votes and a lack of explicit hawkish guidance disappointed investors, leaving the yen exposed and sparking intervention concerns. Central bank intervention remains a blunt instrument to support currencies, and without a robust monetary policy response, Japan may struggle to curb the yen's decline.\n\nIn contrast, the Federal Reserve increased interest rates last week and indicated that the battle against inflation is far from over, leaving the door open to additional rate hikes. The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six other currencies, stood at 100.4, just shy of a seven-week high. Traders are pricing in a 56% chance of a rate hike in October, up from 43.5% a week earlier, according to the CME FedWatch tool.", "summary": null, "key_points": [ "Asian markets rally on oil price drop and US-Iran talks optimism", "US-China leaders meet, trade truce prospects rise", "Dollar strengthens as Fed signals potential further rate hikes" ], "editors_take": "Growing confidence in further US interest rate hikes to curb inflation is bolstering the dollar and pressuring currencies like the yen, which is struggling to curb its decline without robust monetary policy support.", "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 7, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "The Economic Times - Top News", "title": "Global Market Today: Asian stocks climb after tech shares power Wall Street", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/global-market-today-asian-stocks-climb-after-tech-shares-power-wall", "published": "2026-09-22T00:51:39.000Z" }, { "outlet": "New Straits Times", "title": "Tech rally boosts Asian stocks, dollar firms on rate-hike wagers", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/tech-rally-boosts-asian-stocks-dollar-firms-on-rate-hike-wagers-9063643", "published": "2026-09-22T02:19:20.000Z" }, { "outlet": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets", "title": "SK Hynix, Samsung gain as Asian stocks climb after tech powers Wall Street", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/sk-hynix-samsung-gain-as-asian-stocks-climb-after-tech-powers-wall", "published": "2026-09-22T02:28:05.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today", "title": "Tech rally boosts Asian stocks, dollar firms on rate-hike wagers", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/tech-rally-boosts-asian-stocks-dollar-firms-on-rate-hike-wagers-9074240", "published": "2026-09-22T02:33:27.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Business Recorder", "title": "Tech rally boosts Asian stocks, dollar firms on rate-hike wagers", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/tech-rally-boosts-asian-stocks-dollar-firms-on-rate-hike-wagers-9073011", "published": "2026-09-22T03:09:10.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News", "title": "Asian stocks mostly rise on tech rally, lower yields, and US-China trade hopes", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/asian-stocks-mostly-rise-on-tech-rally-lower-yields-and-us-china", "published": "2026-09-22T05:56:20.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }