Most emerging Asian equities rose on Wednesday, with Taiwan, Indonesia, and South Korea hitting all-time highs, while currencies were flat as U.S. inflation data supported expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hold later this month.
The MSCI EM Asia equity index and a broader global EM equities index both touched lifetime highs in the session, rising as much as 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively.
Global central bankers and Wall Street executives backed Fed Chair Jerome Powell after the Trump administration threatened a criminal indictment, underscoring the Fed's global importance.
South Korea's KOSPI index and Taiwan's benchmark index climbed record peaks, rising as much as 0.5% and 0.9%, respectively, as artificial intelligence-linked assets held onto continued strong demand.
The rally in both the tech-heavy benchmarks is consistent with broader global tech trends, reflecting a bias toward growth investing in Asia, said Kenneth Tang, senior portfolio manager at Amova Asset Management.
"The ongoing global AI race is a significant driver of this rally, with Taiwan and South Korea taking leading roles in the semiconductor supply chain, particularly in memory."
Elsewhere, China reported a robust 2025 export run and a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion.
Meanwhile, Singapore equities slipped from record highs touched on Tuesday, declining 0.1%, which Glenn Yin, director of research at ACCM, attributed to potential profit-taking after several record sessions.
Stocks in Jakarta also logged a record high, crossing the key 9,000 mark for the second time since last week.
The Indonesian rupiah slipped as much as 0.1%, hovering near a record low of 16,970 per dollar last seen in April 2025, before paring losses to trade flat. Bank Indonesia pledged continued FX intervention, while the finance minister said strong fundamentals would draw inflows.
"Clearer fiscal discipline and improved confidence could allow the currency to recover...," Yin added.
Currencies elsewhere were mostly muted, though the South Korean won edged higher to snap a 10-session losing streak.
Yin said the won's slide reflects persistent equity outflows, with any sustained rebound hinging on a reversal in flows, while FX stabilisation bond sales would offer only short-term relief.
Market now awaits the Bank of Korea's rate decision on Thursday, with a Reuters poll expecting it to hold the benchmark rate at 2.50%.
HIGHLIGHTS:
** China stock exchanges tighten margin financing requirements
** South Korea's Lee ordered review to look at restoring North Korea military pact, media says
** China's 2025 rare earth exports hit highest since at least 2014 despite restrictions - Reuters
