In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index closed trading 156 points, or 0.6 percent, lower at 25,852 on turnover of HK$257.82 billion.
The tech index was up 10 points, or 0.2 percent, at 4,885 while the China enterprises index was 77 points, or 0.9 percent, down at 8,574.
Shares of Alibaba were 0.5 percent higher, up for a second day, after the company unveiled its largest and most capable AI model to date.
The healthcare sector gained 2.6 percent, with WuXi AppTec surging by HK$18.20, or 11.17 percent, to HK$181.10 after beating earnings estimates.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index closed up 12 points, or 0.33 percent, at 3,822 on turnover of one trillion yuan.
The Shenzhen Component Index was 437 points, or 3.25 percent, higher at 13,885 on turnover of 1.2 trillion yuan.
Gains were led by the technology sector, with the ChiNext Index surging 186 points, or 5.64 percent, to close at 3,488 on turnover of 601.6 billion yuan and the Star 50 Index rising 4.1 percent.
The nation’s CSI Artificial Intelligence Index rose 5.9 percent, the CSI Semiconductor Index climbed 4.9 percent, while China’s CSI 5G Communication Index surged more than 8 percent, climbing from their recent lows following sharp corrections.
A version of Chinese startup DeepSeek’s flagship AI model is by far the least expensive to run on benchmark tests among well-known models globally, research firm Artificial Analysis said, as the company looks to regain momentum after being surpassed by rivals.
“We expect AI to reassert market leadership into August,” analysts at JPMorgan said in a note.
The recent sharp decline in AI-linked cohorts is a healthy rotation rather than the end of the cycle, and it may ultimately create a more attractive entry point in August, they added.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei closed 202 points, or 0.32 percent, higher at 63,957, supported by relatively upbeat demand for chip-related stocks in spite of investor wariness over possible further yen-buying intervention.
The broader Topix crept 0.04 percent higher to 3,961.
In Seoul, the Kospi ended an up-and-down day with gains of 101 points, or 1.62 percent, at 6,358 as chip giants SK Hynix and Samsung – which have been the poster boys of a month-long AI-themed rout – ticked higher. (Agencies)
