Tech Surge Lifts Asian Markets, Dollar Strengthens on Rate Hike Fears

Asian stocks rise on tech momentum and oil drop; dollar gains as rate hike bets grow. US-China AI talks loom.

September 22, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Singapore — Asian stock markets saw a sharp rebound on Tuesday, fueled by a surge in technology shares and optimism over falling oil prices, while the U.S. dollar strengthened amid growing expectations of further interest rate increases.

The gains were driven in part by Meta’s impressive performance, with its newly launched AI assistant, Muse, capturing attention after topping download charts following its launch earlier this month. The tool, designed for everyday users, can handle tasks like booking travel, sending emails, and making purchases, according to the company. Analyst Michael Wan from MUFG noted that Muse could represent a consumer-facing evolution of AI agents, similar to how other platforms cater to business users.

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Regional indices reflected the broader trend, with South Korea’s Kospi rising 1.7% and Taiwan’s Taiex gaining 1.4%. Meanwhile, Wall Street’s Nasdaq closed up 2.3%, signaling continued investor confidence. Traders are now turning their focus to an upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which is expected to address ongoing trade tensions and artificial intelligence cooperation. However, the broader U.S.-China trade dispute remains unresolved, with both sides maintaining a temporary tariff freeze but no long-term agreement in sight.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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