Asian chip stocks are poised for gains on continued investor interest in artificial intelligence, while broader markets face pressure from escalating Middle East hostilities that have pushed Brent crude close to $100 a barrel. Equity-index futures for South Korea rose after the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index gained 1.3% in New York. In contrast, contracts for Japan indicated losses, and US stock futures were little changed after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 declined.