Japan stocks rose more than 5% on Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 hitting 62,000 for the first time as Asia-Pacific markets rallied despite renewed tensions in the Middle East.
The Nikkei 225 index rocketed 3,320.72 points, or 5.6%, to 62,833.84, led by gains in basic materials, technology and financial stocks. Shares of index heavyweight Softbank surged more than 18%.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng recovered 412.50 points, or 1.2%, 26,626.28.
Electronics company Ibiden was the top performer, climbing over 22%. Semiconductor company Sumco Corp surged 19.74%, while manufacturing and metals company Mitsui Kinzoku gained 19%.
Trump’s fresh threats came as reports suggested Washington and Tehran were nearing an agreement to end the war.
The president in a Truth Social post said the U.S. military offensive known as Operation Epic Fury “will be at an end” if Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption.”
If that happened, the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman would “allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” Trump wrote.
West Texas Intermediate futures for June was 0.92% higher at $95.95 per barrel last night.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 index advanced 23.42 points, or 0.5%, to 4,900.51.
In Taiwan, the Taiex vaulted 794.93 points, or 1.9%, to 41,933.78.
In Singapore, the Straits Times 50 index gained 14.58 points, or 0.3%, to 4,941.96.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 hiked 125.41 points, or 1%, to 13,270.61.
In Australia, the AZX 200 surged 84.5 points, or 1%, to 8,878.13.
