Accenture (ACN.N) upbeat annual sales forecast lifted U.S. software stocks in premarket trade: IBM (IBM.N) rose 5.7%, ServiceNow (NOW.N) rose 3%, Salesforce (CRM.N) rose 2.5%, Adobe (ADBE.O) rose 2.2%.

South Korea’s exports continued to surge in September, driven by AI-related global demand lifting semiconductor shipments; working-day adjusted exports rose 104.9% YoY, Korea Customs Service said on Thursday. Cumulative exports for Jan–Sep reached $814.5bn, the first time above $800bn and a record. The semiconductor boom is also boosting public finances: Seoul expects record tax revenue of 478.6 trillion won (~$353bn) in the year, up 28% vs 2025, citing chipmakers’ profits, special dividends, a buoyant stock market and consumer recovery. Strong exports are improving the external balance and could support won appreciation, help curb imported inflation and give policymakers greater flexibility around the timing of the next rate move.

Norway's Road Traffic Information Council (OFV) said Tesla (TSLA.O) new-car registrations in Norway rose 2.2% YoY in September.