<h1>Asian markets mixed as U.S. records lift tech and AI stocks amid huge AI investment, deals, and rate-watch</h1> Asian markets traded mixed after U.S. benchmarks notched a third straight day of record closes, with major indexes higher on gains led by a dominant AI chipmaker after it announced a partnership to train and run next-generation AI models and an investment commitment up to USD 100 billion to an AI developer. A large tech firm rose after securing a copy of a social media app's algorithm as part of a deal to keep the service operating in the U.S. Dealmaking also boosted activity, including a pharmaceutical acquisition of a biotech pipeline for about USD 4.9 billion and a private equity bid for a national office-supply retailer near USD 1 billion. Markets remain sensitive to expected central bank rate cuts, inflation data and steady 10-year Treasury yields.