Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday, with the Hang Seng Index closing one percent down to finish at 24,834 shrugging off an announcement by tech giant Alibaba that it would expand its overseas data centres.

The firm, one of the frontrunners in China's AI industry, said the move would target markets across Europe and the Middle East.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.39 percent to 3,936 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.64 percent lower at 13,636 points

Alibaba's announcement follows a renewed burst of confidence in artificial intelligence this week, with Anthropic and OpenAI releasing new, cheaper AI models within hours of each other.

Anthropic's release comes a few weeks before its expected stock market debut.

OpenAI has delayed its IPO plans until next year.

Consumer hunger for AI apps buoyed tech stocks in other parts of Asia.

Renewed buzz over AI helped South Korean stocks gain 0.9 percent, with Samsung up nearly one percent.

The data hardware sector has been buoyed by strong consumer take-up of Meta's Muse agent, which has topped US app download charts in the past two weeks.

Analysts are now keen to see how a similar product from Alphabet's ⁠Google Labs, known as CC, will fare with consumers.

Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington later on Wednesday amid speculation that a trade truce between China and the United States would be extended, and there could be cooperation over AI.

Japanese markets were closed for a holiday, but Nikkei futures were trading at 66,775, about 1,760 points above where the cash Nikkei closed last week.

"We expect a strong reopening in Japan tomorrow, with another move lower in crude, calm conditions in rates and Treasuries, and the Nasdaq cash and futures markets printing all-time highs," said Chris Weston, head of research at broker Pepperstone.

"Memory stocks have taken the leadership baton, backed by another strong session for semis, which have recorded a sixth consecutive day of gains."

Also of note was demand for SoftBank's US$10 billion-plus debt deal which has reportedly drawn more than US$20 billion in indications of interest.

That would make it one of the largest junk bond deals ever. (Xinhua/Reuters)



Edited by Tony Sabine