HONG KONG - Equity indexes retreated across Asia, led by a sharp selloff in South Korea where the benchmark index fell more than 5 percent after several prominent U.S. artificial intelligence names posted disappointing results.

American index futures pointed lower as well.

During Thursday trading on Wall Street, Broadcom shares tumbled 12.6 percent after the chipmaker issued guidance below analyst forecasts, sparking worries about the broader technology and AI sectors.

Micron Technology lost 7.7 percent and CrowdStrike Holdings declined 3.8 percent.

Nevertheless the S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.7 percent to a fresh record high, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1 percent.

Asian investors sold off prominent AI-related names, sending South Korea SK Hynix down 8.4 percent and Samsung Electronics lower by 5.4 percent.

The Kospi index fell 5.1 percent to 8,185.62 at midday, trimming gains from a near doubling over the past twelve months driven by large technology firms.

Japan Nikkei 225 eased 1.4 percent to 66,532.35 as technology stocks led losses despite data showing real wages rising for a fourth consecutive month. Tokyo Electron shares dropped 7.2 percent.

Hong Kong Hang Seng index declined 0.8 percent to 25,047.83 while Shanghai Composite added 0.4 percent to 4,075.31.

Australia S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5 percent to 8,639.50.

Taiwan Taiex lost 1.5 percent and India Sensex gained 0.2 percent.

Crude prices steadied after Thursday declines. Brent crude rose 0.4 percent to 95.42 dollars per barrel after touching around 95.03 dollars, compared with roughly 70 dollars before the conflict began in late February.

U.S. benchmark crude edged 0.1 percent higher to 93.15 dollars a barrel.

Robust corporate results and enthusiasm for AI demand have lifted several equity markets to record levels despite repeated shocks from the regional conflict. Oil remains under pressure because the Strait of Hormuz stays effectively shut, raising the risk of slower growth and higher inflation worldwide.

U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a preliminary accord last week to prolong their truce, yet the pact remains unsigned amid fresh developments in Lebanon that cloud chances for a lasting settlement.

On Thursday the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah turned down the most recent ceasefire proposal between Lebanese and Israeli authorities.

While few signs point to progress in U.S.-Iran discussions, oil markets continue to price in expectations of an early agreement that would reopen flows through the Strait of Hormuz, ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey noted in a report.

Optimism surrounding the U.S.-Iran talks may have been overstated, they added.

Elsewhere early Friday the dollar slipped to 159.97 Japanese yen from 160.03 yen. The euro traded at 1.1614 dollars, up from 1.1610 dollars.