Asian markets settled mostly higher on Friday after China's strategic commitment to deepen tech investment. Despite setting the lower GDP growth target of 4.5-5% for 2026, China pledged substantial investment in high-tech sectors, benefiting artificial intelligence, chipmakers, and biotech firms. Chinese shares gained after reports emerged that China’s government has reportedly ordered a suspension of new fuel export contracts to ensure domestic supply and demand balance amidst heightened inflation risks and market volatility. Hong Kong shares rallied as technology shares rebounded from a week-long selloff following the Middle East war. Japan’s Nikkei rose, supported by expectations of a less-hawkish Bank of Japan. Seoul shares ended almost flat with positive bias after data showed South Korea's annual inflation rate held steady at 2% in February 2026, unchanged from January and slightly below market expectations of 2.1%. However, Jakarta shares dipped tracking Wall Street’s fall overnight as attacks in the Middle East spread to more countries.