Asian markets mixed as AI stocks fall; Tokyo and Seoul drop, Hong Kong and Shanghai gain

Asian stock markets closed mixed, with tech shares falling after the US election outcome. Tokyo's Nikkei dropped 1.79% to 61,077.90, while Seoul plunged 5.2% on losses in Samsung and SK Hynix. Hong Kong and Shanghai rose. The Democratic victory fueled fears of stricter AI regulation, weighing on semiconductor and electronics stocks. The yen strengthened to near 158 per dollar. Toyota raised its full-year profit forecast to 3.57 trillion yen, sending its shares up over 15%. Brent crude fell 0.8% to $93.91 per barrel, and US oil dropped 1% to $87.27. Democratic control of Congress could boost solar and wind companies, with First Solar up 4.6% and Enphase Energy up 3.7%.