Global Markets Rally on Easing AI Concerns

Stock markets in Asia and Europe, including Seoul, Tokyo, London, and Paris, reached record highs on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. This rally was primarily driven by easing investor worries about the AI sector, following a presentation by Anthropic that emphasized the compatibility of its technology with existing programs. Positive company updates, such as HSBC's better-than-expected 2025 earnings, also contributed to the gains. The Kospi index in Seoul, led by chip titans Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, topped 6,000 points for the first time, while Tokyo's market also hit a new peak with strong performances from Advantest and Tokyo Electron. Attention is now focused on Nvidia's upcoming earnings report, which analysts believe could significantly impact markets. Geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the United States, and concerns from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about further interest rate hikes by the Japan===Bank of Japan, also influenced oil prices and the yen, respectively.