Hong Kong and Japanese stocks closed higher on Friday as tech shares rallied, shrugging off broader regional market struggles fueled by a shaky ceasefire in the Middle East and rising oil prices, an analyst said.
Hong Kong's stock market ended higher on Friday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 0.24 percent to close at 25,978.07 points.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 0.49 percent to end at 8,775.62 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 0.75 percent to end at 4,902.20 points.
Wang Ying, a market analyst with China Global Television Network (CGTN), said Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged up as tech and semiconductor stocks rallied on bargain hunting and DeepSeek's new model launch.
"Markets around the region actually struggled on Friday and oil prices resumed their rise, as a shaky ceasefire in the Middle East conflict and stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks gave investors little to cheer. Oil prices advanced for a fifth straight session, reinforcing worries about prolonged supply risks and inflation pressures. Boosted by the launch of DeepSeek's new model, Hua Hong Semiconductor and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp jumped 14 percent and 9.5 percent each, reflecting strong market interest in chip manufacturers. Other volatile stocks included Lenovo Group, and Guoxia Technology, gaining 3.35 percent and 33.7 percent each. The Hang Seng tech index gained 0.83 percent," Wang said.
Tokyo stocks ended higher Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index closing at another record high, as heavyweight technology shares tracked gains by their U.S. counterparts.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 575.95 points, or 0.97 percent, from Thursday at 59,716.18. The broader Topix index finished 0.21 points higher at 3,716.59.
On the top-tier Prime Market, the main gainers were mining, marine transportation, and glass and ceramics product issues.
Semiconductor-related shares helped lift the Nikkei, tracking their U.S. peers amid optimism over earnings prospects for artificial intelligence-related businesses.
Meanwhile, the Topix index moved narrowly around the previous day's closing level.
"Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose nearly 1 percent in today's trading session, recovering part of the previous session's losses as investors assessed fresh inflation data ahead of next week's Bank of Japan (BOJ)'s policy decision. In today's trade, tech stocks led the advance, with gains from Lasertec, Fujikura, Advantest and Tokyo Electron. Obviously, enthusiasm over technology sector earnings offset uncertainty over a potential peace deal in the Middle East," Wang said.
"Meanwhile, Japan's core inflation accelerated for the first time in five months, driven by higher energy costs, though it remained below the BOJ's 2 percent target. Markets expect the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged, as policymakers navigate heightened uncertainty stemming from the Middle East, where stalled U.S.-Iran peace efforts and ongoing blockades in the Strait of Hormuz continue to push energy prices higher and elevate inflation risks," she said.
Asian stocks mixed as Mideast ceasefire doubts, higher oil prices weigh: analyst
The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026) opened in Beijing on Friday, featuring a total of 181 debut models.
With the theme of "Future of Intelligence", this year's event offers a comprehensive showcase of the latest advancements in electric and intelligent vehicles, and highlights the Chinese automotive industry's strong momentum in driving global transformation through openness and innovation.
Fully utilizing all exhibition spaces at both the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall) and the Capital International Exhibition Center of China, Auto China 2026 has a record-breaking total exhibition area of 380,000 square meters, making it the world's largest auto show by exhibition area.
This year's auto show has brought together leading automakers, technology companies and supply chain manufacturers from 21 countries and regions worldwide.
A total of 1,451 vehicles, including 71 concept cars, are on display at the ongoing event, with new energy vehicles accounting for over 80 percent of the total -- a record high.
Chinese brands are demonstrating strong innovative vitality.
Harmony lntelligent Mobility Alliance, the auto business of China's tech giant Huawei, joined hands with Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group) to launch the much-anticipated Aistaland GT7, a shooting brake equipped with the latest intelligent driving assistance system and fast-charging technology from Huawei.
BYD, meanwhile, unveiled its all-new full-size SUV, the "Datang," which boasts an extremely fast charging speed. The company claims it can reach 80 percent charge in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
The Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo, a concept supercar designed for world-famous racing video game Gran Turismo 7, also made its domestic debut, showcasing Xiaomi's vision for the future of high-performance EVs.
Xiaomi, the Chinese brand known globally for its smart gadgets, is also eying the global auto market after launching several successful models in China.
"The first stop for Xiaomi Auto's overseas market will be in Germany, the world's most challenging auto market. It will be another pioneering journey for us. Working closely with other players in the auto industry, we aim to drive the advancement of the entire automotive industry through our vehicles' driving performance and intelligent ecosystem. I also hope our overseas business team will successfully establish the Xiaomi Auto brand on the global stage," said Lei Jun, founder and chairman of Xiaomi.
German luxury brands are stepping up their efforts to develop new models tailored specifically for the Chinese market.
BMW unveiled its iX3 Long Wheelbase, providing Chinese customers with a larger space for rear passengers, as well as an intelligent driving system developed in collaboration with a Chinese tech company.
The E7X SUV, jointly developed by German automaker Audi and Shanghai-based SAIC Motor, met the public for the first time at the event.
American brands are also actively adapting.
General Motors is showcasing several new models featuring localized smart cockpits at the auto show, hoping to win over more consumers in the highly competitive Chinese market.
Cadillac, a luxury brand under General Motors, has brought to the auto show the VISTIQ EV specially enhanced for China that is, according to one of its executives, envied by North America consumers.
"The rear-seat infotainment system and independent executive seats in the back are all features that owners in North America and Europe do not have access to. The VISTIQ is equipped with advanced driver-assistance system developed in collaboration with Chinese company Momenta and a LiDAR system from Hesai Technology, a world-leading Chinese supplier of LiDAR. Through deep cooperation with Chinese high-tech companies, we created an electric vehicle that is perfectly suited to the development trends and consumer needs of China's new energy vehicle sector, particularly in the realm of pure electric vehicles," said Shi Wenjie, a product manager from Cadillac.
Supply chain companies have also emerged as a major force at this year's auto show.
Leading suppliers such as CATL, EVE Energy and Huawei have all set up their own exhibition areas to showcase core technologies and solutions in areas such as batteries, intelligent driving and in-vehicle infotainment systems.
Battery giant CATL's new-generation ultra-fast-charging battery has drawn significant attention, with the company claiming it can provide hundreds of kilometers of range after just a few minutes of charging -- directly addressing Chinese consumers' primary concern regarding charging efficiency.
"We are showcasing our third-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery at this year's auto show. Our core fast-charging technology can charge the battery from 10 percent to 98 percent in just six minutes. Typically, lithium iron phosphate batteries charge more slowly in cold weather, but our self-heating technology enables fast charging even at -30 degrees Celsius, allowing the battery to be fully charged in under nine minutes," said CATL engineer Ji Yuanchun.
The auto show will run through May 3.
Auto China 2026 opens in Beijing with 181 debut models
