Asia-Pacific stock markets renew highs after tensions between the US and Iran.
- Asian stock markets rise following ceasefire between the US and Iran.
- Nikkei and Kospi hit record highs on Wednesday.
- Wall Street closes higher, boosted by tech stocks.
Asia-Pacific stock markets opened higher on Wednesday, with major indexes in Japan and South Korea hitting new records as investors monitored developments in tensions between the United States and Iran and negotiations involving a possible ceasefire.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 1,49% at the opening of trading, renewing its all-time high. The Topix also traded higher, up 0,57%, following the positive movement observed in global markets.
In South Korea, the Kospi jumped 4,84%, while the Kosdaq, which tracks smaller-cap companies, fell 0,68%. Shares of Samsung Electronics rose as much as 6% after unionized workers approved a provisional wage agreement, reducing the risk of shutdowns in global semiconductor supply chains.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index opened 0,13% higher.
The positive market performance occurred even after new US military actions in the Middle East. During the early hours of Tuesday, American forces carried out operations classified by the Pentagon as "self-defense" attacks in southern Iran.
According to US officials, the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian vessels allegedly involved in laying sea mines. Despite this, Washington stated that it continues to seek to maintain the ceasefire agreement.
The incident highlighted the fragility of the truce between the two countries, while diplomatic negotiations continue. The current US president, Donald Trump, stated on Monday that talks with Iran to end the conflict were "progressing well," but warned that new offensives could occur if no agreement is reached.
In the United States, Wall Street closed the last trading session higher. The S&P 500 rose 0,61% and closed at 7.519,12 points. The Nasdaq advanced 1,19%, ending the day at 26.656,18 points, driven mainly by technology stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, on the other hand, fell 0,23% to close at 50.461,68 points, after losing 118,02 points during the trading session. US markets remained closed on Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday.
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