MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.7%

Stocks rose in early trade on Friday, though a renewed decline in Oracle’s share price sent jitters through the tech sector.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.7%.

Nikkei 225 outperformed the region in morning trade, jumping 1% as shares in Softbank Group soared 6%.

Meanwhile, U.S. financial markets had to move fast to find their footing this week when that country’s central bank cut interest rates but gave a less hawkish outlook than expected, and the return of AI bubble worries added to the stress for investors.

S&P 500 e-mini futures were unchanged and Nasdaq future were down 0.2% as markets were on edge after Oracle shares slumped 13%, sparking a tech selloff, as the company’s massive spending and weak forecasts fanned doubts over how quickly the big bets on AI will pay off.

Oracle announced disappointing earnings alongside further investment in data centres, triggering renewed concerns about AI-related spending, with investors questioning whether the high level of investment will ultimately deliver the required returns,” analysts from Westpac wrote in a research note.

Tech stocks received some support after Broadcom projected first-quarter revenue above U.S. stock market estimates on Thursday. But gains were tempered after the company said margins would fall due to a higher mix of AI revenue, dragging its shares down 5% in extended trading.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the dollar’s strength against other major currencies, was last at a two-month low of 98.30, after the central bank’s less hawkish than expected outlook on rates.