Asia-Pacific markets broadly rose Wednesday, tracking overnight gains in U.S. stocks, amid rising hopes of a diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 marched ahead 256.85 points, or 0.4%, to close Wednesday at 58,134.24.
Shares of Suntory Beverage & Food rose 1.24% following a Nikkei report that its parent company will buy Daiichi Sankyo’s over-the-counter pharmaceutical unit to expand its health business for about $1.2 billion.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng took on 75 points, or 0.3%, to 25,947.32.
A White House official told the media on Tuesday that a second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran was under discussion, though nothing has been officially scheduled yet, the official said.
In Korea, shares of information technology services provider Samsung SDS rose 17.89% following news that private equity firm KKR will buy $820 million of its convertible bonds.
Oil prices were choppy in trading. The West Texas Intermediate was flat at $91.33 U.S. per barrel as of 3:32 a.m. ET. Brent crude was 0.40% higher at $95.17 per barrel.
CHINA
The CSI 300 index in Shanghai shed 16.04 points, or 0.3%, to 4,685.25.
China’s finance ministry said it will issue 15.5 billion yuan-denominated treasury bonds in Hong Kong on April 22, according to Reuters.
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex advanced 426.02 points, or 1.2%, to 36,722.14.
South Korea’s Kospi gained 123.64 points, or 2.1%, to 6,091.39
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index added 13.63 points, or 0.3%, to 5,021.20.
In Australia, the AZX 200 edged ahead 7.87 points, or 0.1%, to 8,978.69.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 recovered 59.32 points, or 0.5%, to 13,076.58.
