Asian Shares Rise as AI Chip Demand Lifts Tech; Oil Eases Above $100 on Saudi Supply Hopes

Asian equity markets edged higher on September 21, 2026, as demand for AI-related data buoyed chipmakers. South Korea's tech-heavy index gained 1.1%, while MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.3%. Japan's Nikkei was closed for the Silver Week holiday, though futures advanced 0.5%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures added 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively. The dollar held steady at 157.00 yen as investors weighed possible Bank of Japan intervention amid thin holiday liquidity. Bond markets remained strained, with US 2-year yields at 4.7604% after a 36 basis-point surge over two weeks. Futures price a 56% chance of an October Fed rate hike. Brent crude slipped 0.2% to $103.68 a barrel and US crude fell 0.3% to $100.02 as Saudi Arabia signaled it could restart flows through its damaged East-West pipeline. Gold eased 0.2% to $4,370 an ounce.