06:43 AM EDT, 07/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets generally gained on Thursday after chip-making colossus Taiwan Semiconductor reported strong earnings, setting the tone for Pacific region tech shares.

Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, while Hong Kong inched lower. Other regional exchanges mostly finished higher.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed up 0.6% as traders reviewed a report on strong inbound tourism. A stronger dollar boosted export issues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 237.79 to 39,901.19, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 174 to 50.

Leading the upside was silicon wafer maker Sumco, up 7%, while Seven & i declined 9.2% after Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard dropped a $47 billion buyout bid for the Japanese retail conglomerate, an enterprise that includes 7/11 brand outlets.

In economic news, Japan exported $61.61 billion worth of goods in June, off 0.5% from a year earlier, while the nation imported $60.60 billion of products, up 0.2% on year, reported the Ministry of Finance.

Japan logged 21.5 million foreign visitors in H1, surpassing the 20 million mark for the first time, reported the Japan National Tourism Organization.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index finished off 0.1% as traders awaited fresh catalysts. Gains in tech shares were offset by a soft property sector.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 18.81 to 24,498.95, although gaining issues outnumbered losers 43 to 40. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.6% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.6%.

Leading the upside was Li Auto, gaining 9.7% after Beijing vowed to curb "irrational competition" in the electric vehicle market. Chow Tai Fook Jewelry declined 3.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% to 3,516.83.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.6%; the Taiwan TWSE advanced 0.3%; the Australian ASX 200 gained 0.9%, and the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.7%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.4%.

In Bangkok, the Thai SET index rose 3.5% on the day, on government reports that the Minister of Commerce had negotiated a trade deal overnight with Washington, to hold tariffs on Thai exports to the US to 18%, while reducing tariffs on US products entering Thailand to zero.