The Nasdaq is set to finish the week higher, driven by a rebound in technology stocks. In contrast, Asian markets lagged behind U.S. equities, affected by rising oil prices, an increase in global bond yields, and expectations for tighter monetary policy. However, Asian stocks rebounded on Friday following Wall Street's tech rally and a decline in oil prices.

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U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility leading up to September 17, influenced by the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate decision, alongside concerns about rising oil prices and long-term Treasury yields, which negatively impacted investor sentiment. Key Asian markets, including those in China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, exhibited similar trends, trending lower throughout the week.

The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is poised to show gains this week, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) are expected to close lower. Additionally, the iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI), iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT), and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) are also likely to end the week in the red.

The Nasdaq's upward movement is attributed to a tech-led recovery following the Fed's first interest rate hike in three years, which helped reduce oil prices and long-term Treasury yields that had previously surged. On Thursday, the Nasdaq surged by 1.69%, marking its largest gain in over six weeks, with semiconductor stocks significantly contributing to this increase. Major chipmakers such as Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), Micron Technologies (MU), and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) saw substantial gains, as fears concerning the rapid growth of AI appeared to diminish. Software companies also recorded strong performances.

Rebecca Walser, CEO of Walser Wealth Management, noted in an interview that markets must embrace the technology revolution, despite potential volatility as mid-term elections approach.

In summary, while U.S. markets are buoyed by technology, Asian markets are struggling under external pressures but found some relief on Friday.