<h1>Asian markets mostly higher as tech and AI-chip gains follow US record highs and upbeat cloud vendor AI outlook</h1> Asian shares were mostly higher as tech-related gains followed U.S. records driven by easing inflation and a bullish AI-driven forecast from a major cloud-software vendor. Tokyo's market rose after producer prices climbed 2.7% year-on-year; Hong Kong slipped while mainland Chinese bourses advanced. Semiconductor and AI-chip developers posted notable gains. In the U.S., the benchmark index hit a fresh high while the industrial average fell, with markets pricing in an eventual central bank rate cut contingent on mild consumer inflation after a surprise slowdown in wholesale inflation. A leading enterprise software firm's stock surged on an upbeat AI revenue outlook despite mixed quarterly results; oil and major currencies moved little.