Asia-Pacific markets began the week on a positive note, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 hitting a record high in holiday-thinned trading as falling oil prices and renewed optimism over Middle East negotiations boosted investor sentiment.
Reports suggesting progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz helped ease concerns over energy supply disruptions, weighing on crude prices and supporting risk assets across the region.
United States President Donald Trump noted in a Truth Social post: “The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side.”
Brent and West Texas Intermediate oil futures were trading 7% and 4.5% lower following Trump’s remarks, extending recent declines as markets priced in a potential easing of geopolitical tensions after earlier supply concerns had driven prices higher.
By 11:30 am AEST (1:30 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2.9% to a fresh record high. South Korea’s KOSPI 200 was closed for a public holiday.
On Friday, Wall Street finished higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.6% to a record close. The S&P 500 gained 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2%, supported by steady gains in major technology names and optimism around earnings.
In commodities, ICE Brent crude rose 1% to settle at US$103.54 per barrel on Friday, while spot gold slipped 0.8% to US$4,504.33 per ounce.
Chinese equities also advanced on Friday, with the Shanghai Composite Index adding 0.9% to 4,112.9 and the CSI 300 rising 1.3% to 4,845.1.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.9% to 25,606.0, while India’s BSE Sensex edged 0.3% higher to 75,415.4.
European markets also closed higher on Friday, with the UK’s FTSE 100 up 0.2% at 10,466.3. Germany’s DAX gained 1.2% to 24,888.6, and France’s CAC 40 rose 0.4% to 8,115.8.
