Saxo Markets chief investment strategist Charu Chanana said NVIDIA's results strongly validate the AI infrastructure investment case. As capacity expands, storage, networking, optical communications, power infrastructure and some cloud providers should benefit, but markets increasingly need to see AI investment deliver returns. Storage remains a clear beneficiary; NVIDIA's margin guidance confirms supply tightness. Asian storage-chip stocks largely rose after the results. Chanana added the next

German exporters' confidence rose in August to a four-and-a-half-year high as demand from EU partners lifted the IFO export expectations index to 9.6 from -2.8 in July — the largest one-month improvement in over six years and the highest reading since Feb 2022. The survey cited stronger sentiment at data-processing equipment, electrical equipment and auto firms; IFO said exports, especially to the EU, are accelerating. Official data on Tuesday showed Q2 GDP expanded more than initially estimated, partly driven by robust exports, providing further evidence of stabilising growth despite deep strains in the auto sector.

Statistics Korea said June, Q2 and 1H births were the highest in nearly seven years. June births totaled 23,111, up 3,115 YoY (+15.6%); monthly births have risen YoY for 24 consecutive months.