TOKYO — Global shares were mostly higher on Thursday, powered by gains for AI-related stocks including computer chips. France’s CAC 40 edged up 0.1 per cent in early trading to 8,685.40, while the German DAX added 0.4 per cent to 26,445.93. Britain’s FTSE 100 shed 0.4 per cent to 10,791.07. U.S. shares were set to drift moderately higher with Dow futures up nearly 0.1 per cent at 53,921.00. S&P 500 futures rose nearly 0.1 per cent to 7,775.25. Earlier in Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 advanced 1.2 per cent to finish at 68,308.59. In South Korea, the Kospi jumped 3.6 per cent, climbing to 6,813.34, as shares in Samsung Electronics surged 4.9 per cent. Computer chipmaker SK Hynix jumped 9 per cent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.2 per cent to 25,378.14, while the Shanghai Composite index fell 0.5 per cent to 3,926.96. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2 per cent to 9,188.50. On Wednesday, several AI-related companies reported better earnings for the spring than analysts expected, while a report showed inflation across the United States was in line with forecasts for a slight improvement. Analysts say investors are starting to study which AI stocks to play, instead of getting drawn in by the whole sector. AI stocks recently have been on a roller-coaster ride, surging to records and then coming under pressure on worries that they have shot too high. Investors want to see big spenders on AI prove their investments are yielding enough in profits and productivity to make them worth it. That in turn could lead to sustained demand for chips and other AI infrastructure. In other dealings early Thursday, benchmark U.S. crude slipped US$1.18 to $82.08 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, fell $1.17 to $87.81 a barrel. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar fell to 159.37 Japanese yen from 159.42 yen. The euro cost $1.1526, down slightly from $1.1527. Foreign exchange fluctuations have been in focus after the U.S. and Japan recently jointly intervened to prop up the yen. Although the dollar has fallen slightly against the yen, it still remains above 150 yen. ___ Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press
