Asian Markets Today: Taiwan Weighted Rises 0.7% While Hang Seng Slips on Sixth Session Bid

Asian shares aim for sixth session of gains. Taiwan Weighted +0.72% (48,142.85). Hang Seng -0.91% (24,859). KOSPI +0.15% (7,028.78). Straits Times -0.09%. Jakarta Composite +0.09%.

Updated: 23 Sept 2026 • 9:24 am

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Asian Markets Today: Taiwan Weighted Rises 0.7% While Hang Seng Slips on Sixth Session Bid

Quick Answer

Asian markets traded mixed on Wednesday as shares aimed for a sixth straight session of gains, with signs of consumer demand for AI applications continuing to buoy technology stocks even as oil prices faltered on reports of increased supply out of the Middle East. Taiwan Weighted led regional gainers, up 0.72 percent to 48,142.85, while Hang Seng slipped 0.91 percent to 24,859.00. KOSPI edged up 0.15 percent to 7,028.78, Jakarta Composite gained 0.09 percent, and Straits Times was roughly flat, down a marginal 0.09 percent.

Asian markets traded mixed on Wednesday, with regional shares aiming for a sixth consecutive session of gains as signs of continued consumer demand for AI applications kept technology stocks well bid across the region.

Taiwan Weighted led the gainers, up 0.72 percent to 48,142.85, benefiting from its heavy weighting toward semiconductor and technology manufacturers directly exposed to global AI-related demand, while Hang Seng bucked the broader trend, slipping 0.91 percent to 24,859.00.

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Table of Contents

Why AI-Driven Demand Is Lifting Some Markets More Than Others

Taiwan Weighted's outperformance reflects the index's heavy concentration in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing companies that sit directly in the global AI supply chain, meaning continued signs of consumer and enterprise demand for AI applications translate more directly into earnings expectations for Taiwanese exporters than for markets with a different sector composition.

This divergence illustrates why a common regional narrative, in this case AI-driven tech demand, does not lift every Asian market equally, with the benefit concentrated in economies and indices most directly exposed to the underlying theme.

Index	Level	Change (%)
Taiwan Weighted	48,142.85	+0.72
KOSPI	7,028.78	+0.15
Jakarta Composite	6,282.57	+0.09
Straits Times	5,718.48	-0.09
Hang Seng	24,859.00	-0.91

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Why Hang Seng Moved Against the Regional Trend

Hang Seng's 0.91 percent decline, even as most regional peers traded higher or flat, suggests factors specific to Hong Kong or mainland China-linked stocks were at play, rather than a broad risk-off move, since the rest of the region was largely resilient on the same day.

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Investors should look for Hong Kong or China-specific news, such as regulatory developments or specific sector concerns, to explain this divergence, since a market moving against an otherwise positive regional backdrop typically points to a more localised driver.

What a Sixth Straight Session of Gains Would Signal

Asian shares aiming for a sixth consecutive session of gains, even with today's mixed cross-market picture, points to a sustained, multi-day improvement in regional risk appetite rather than a single day's bounce, a pattern that has coincided with easing oil prices and the ongoing AI demand narrative.

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Investors should watch whether this streak extends further or breaks, since a run of this length is often followed by either continued momentum if the underlying drivers, AI demand and softer oil prices, remain intact, or a pause for consolidation if either factor reverses.

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Conclusion

Asian markets today reflected a genuinely mixed picture, with Taiwan Weighted's AI-driven gains contrasting against Hang Seng's decline, even as the region aims for a sixth straight session of overall gains. Investors should watch whether this streak extends and track China-specific developments behind Hang Seng's divergence, and should consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer: Data and figures in this article are sourced from publicly available information. These may or may not be accurate. Please verify all data with the official NSE (nseindia.com) and BSE (bseindia.com) websites before making any investment decision. Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice by Univest (SEBI RA INH000013776).

FAQs

Which Asian market performed best today?

Ans. Taiwan Weighted led regional gainers, up 0.72 percent to 48,142.85, benefiting from AI-driven demand for its semiconductor and technology manufacturers.

Why did Hang Seng decline while other Asian markets gained?

Ans. Hang Seng's 0.91 percent decline, against an otherwise resilient regional backdrop, suggests factors specific to Hong Kong or mainland China-linked stocks rather than a broad risk-off move.

How many consecutive sessions of gains are Asian shares aiming for?

Ans. Asian shares are aiming for a sixth straight session of gains.

What is driving the broader rally in Asian tech stocks?

Ans. Signs of continued consumer demand for AI applications have kept technology stocks well bid across several Asian markets, particularly those with heavy exposure to semiconductor manufacturing.

How are oil prices affecting Asian markets today?

Ans. Oil prices faltered on reports of increased supply out of the Middle East, a factor that has broadly supported risk appetite across the region.

What should investors watch for in Asian markets going forward?

Ans. Investors should watch whether the current gaining streak extends or pauses, and track China-specific developments to understand Hang Seng's divergence from the regional trend.