Salesforce emerged as the standout performer on Kazakhstan's KASE Global board during the final trading window, with shares surging more than 21% after the software giant raised its full-year revenue and profit outlook. The company's strategic partnership with Anthropic, dubbed "Claudeforce," added further momentum to the AI-software narrative, propelling the stock to $247.77 in late-session trading.
The broader Asian session closed with a split tone, as technology-driven gains in South Korea and mainland China were offset by softer finishes in Japan, Hong Kong, and India. The KOSPI advanced 1.53% to 6,912.37, while China's Shanghai Composite climbed 1.13% to 3,956.57 and the Shenzhen Component rose 1.50% to 14,048.88. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.20% to 66,131.98, the Hang Seng fell 0.34% to 25,565.74, and India's Sensex declined 0.70% to 76,933.59.
Nvidia's robust quarterly results served as a key catalyst for semiconductor and AI-related names across the region. The chipmaker reported revenue of $96.22 billion for the quarter, with data-center revenue surging 117% year-over-year to $89 billion. Its next-quarter revenue guidance of $108 billion exceeded expectations, reinforcing optimism about sustained AI infrastructure spending.
The Bank of Korea added to the regional policy divergence by raising its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.00%, marking the second consecutive increase. The central bank also lifted its 2026 growth forecast to 3.3% from 2.6%, signaling confidence in the domestic economy despite tightening financial conditions.
Salesforce's second-quarter performance was equally impressive, with revenue reaching $11.35 billion, up 11% year-over-year. The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $46.1 billion to $46.4 billion, citing strong demand for its AI-powered solutions and the success of its partnership with Anthropic.
On the KASE Global board, Boeing also gained 10.58%, while Nvidia and Intel advanced 6.82% and 5.00%, respectively. Uber was the notable laggard, falling 10.22% in the same session.
Investors are now turning their attention to the scheduled close of KASE Global at 01:00 SGT, with thin late-session liquidity potentially amplifying individual stock moves. The US session will be closely watched to see if Nvidia and Salesforce can sustain their post-earnings gains, as any reversal could test the resilience of Asia's AI-led advance.
Looking ahead, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's upcoming speech at Jackson Hole remains the next major global rates catalyst. The US 10-year Treasury yield was observed at 4.66%, reflecting ongoing market speculation about the trajectory of monetary policy.
