Asian equities posted modest gains, led by tech stocks, while Chinese indices fell 0.7‑0.8% ahead of the Trump‑Xi summit.
Alibaba (HK:9988) rallied 5% after announcing increased AI spending over the next three years, offsetting weak Q4 earnings.
US markets rose, with S&P 500 futures up 0.1% and Wall Street closing at record highs on tech and chip gains.
Oil price concerns from the Iran war and recent US inflation data kept broader sentiment cautious, dragging ASX 200 and STI lower.