Asian stock markets diverge as AI lifts East Asia and fuel shortages drag others

9 articles · Updated · Fortune · Apr 30

Since the Iran war began, Taiwan’s Taiex is up nearly 10% and South Korea’s KOSPI 4%, while India’s NIFTY 50 is down 5% and MSCI ASEAN 7%.
Demand for AI chips and infrastructure has boosted China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which dominate advanced semiconductor production, while the closed Strait of Hormuz has strained fuel-dependent emerging economies.
Analysts also cite de-dollarization fears and governance concerns in parts of Southeast Asia, though energy security and data-centre demand are driving new infrastructure and green investment across India and ASEAN.

As the Iran war cuts off critical helium supplies, is Asia’s AI boom about to run out of gas?

While AI showers East Asia with trillions, is the resulting energy crisis creating a permanently divided continent?