Asian shares gain, tech rallies on Samsung-OpenAI

Asian markets

Asian equities rose at the open, led by technology stocks, after OpenAI struck a deal with South Korean chipmakers that bolstered optimism over artificial intelligence.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8% with moves in chips and technology stocks being the most notable. Samsung Electronics Co. advanced 4% and SK Hynix Inc. jumped 11% after signing an initial supply pact with OpenAI’s Stargate project. That helped South Korea’s Kospi benchmark to hit a record intraday high. Hong Kong shares rose as traders returned after a holiday.

Treasuries held their gains, spurred by private payrolls data that reinforced bets the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates this month. A Bloomberg gauge of the dollar held steady while gold edged lower after setting a record high.

The artificial intelligence boom and billions in corporate investment have been key drivers of the stock rally to record highs after April’s slump. Investors have also shrugged off the political impasse in Washington that has led to the first government shutdown in seven years and threatens to obstruct crucial economic data the Fed needs for its rate decisions.

“Sam Altman’s OpenAI Stargate deal with the Korean companies further reinforces the strong structural backdrop of robust AI demand in the coming years,” said Vey-Sern Ling, senior equity adviser for Asia technology at Union Bancaire Privee. “Memory chip stocks like SK Hynix and Samsung are currently enjoying a cyclical upcycle for conventional memory.”

Meanwhile, an ADP Research report Wednesday showed payrolls at US companies unexpectedly dropped in September, consistent with other data over the past month that indicate a slowing labor market. That prompted traders to add to bets on two more Fed rate cuts this year.

“The market is going to have to focus on independent private sources to get a sense of what’s going on,” said Wellington Management portfolio manager Brij Khurana. “If the administration does go forward with cutting headcount, there is potential for this to have an economic impact and probably more so than what we’re used to.”

The JOLTS report on Tuesday had signaled that demand for workers is slowing, giving traders a snapshot of the labor market at a time the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ nonfarm payrolls data will likely be delayed.

Even if the September nonfarm payroll report cannot be published before the Fed meeting, officials will have enough information about the labor market to deliver another 25 basis point “insurance” cut at the October meeting, said Atakan Bakiskan, US economist at Berenberg.

Investors analyzing the impact of previous shutdowns determined that such events don’t last long and often have a negligible macroeconomic impact.

“What sets this shutdown apart is the threat of permanent layoffs for non-essential federal staff, which, while possibly political bluster and subject to legal challenges, could prolong the drag on public sector payrolls,” Thomas Ryan, North America economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a note.

At a White House press conference on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said he doesn’t anticipate a long shutdown, adding that layoffs will come if it lasts for days or weeks.