Japan's Nikkei 225 Index Smashes Records, Closing Above 42,000. Tech Stocks Lead the Way

Japan's Nikkei 225 index hit a new record high, closing above 42,000 as technology stocks gained. The broader Topix index reached a new high, while the  Kosdaq tech index declined. South Korea's Kospi increased after the Bank of Korea maintained stable interest rates.  Chip stocks were among the biggest winners of the U.S. trading session, with U.S.-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company rising after reporting revenue that exceeded Wall Street estimates. Other chip firms like Qualcomm and Broadcom also saw gains, along with a notable increase for Nvidia, a favorite in the artificial intelligence sector.