Japan and South Korea Stocks Hit Record Highs Amid Iran Ceasefire Extension
Nikkei 225 reaches 60,013.98, Kospi hits 6,538.72 as tech stocks rally and South Korea posts 1.7% Q1 growth
Quick Look
- Japan's Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi both reached record intraday highs on Thursday, driven by tech stock gains and positive sentiment from Trump's Iran ceasefire extension.
- The Nikkei rose to 60,013.98 while the Kospi advanced to 6,538.72.
- South Korea's economy grew 1.7% in Q1, its fastest pace since Q3 2020, exceeding expectations.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Asian markets have been tracking U.S. overnight gains following the Iran ceasefire extension. Japan's tech-heavy Nikkei benefited from Softbank's strong performance, while South Korea's economy showed resilience with better-than-expected Q1 growth.
Japan and South Korea stocks hit record highs Thursday, trailing gains in U.S. stocks overnight after President Donald Trump's extension of the Iran ceasefire helped to buoy investor sentiment, while upbeat earnings reports also lifted sentiment.
Trump extended a two-week U.S. ceasefire on Tuesday, saying it was warranted due to Tehran's "seriously fractured" government. "Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The ceasefire would be extended until Tehran submitted a proposal or discussions were concluded, and the U.S. military would continue its blockade of Iranian ports, according to Trump. However, the timeline remains uncertain. Iranian state media reported Wednesday that Tehran's negotiators wouldn't attend the talks with the U.S., calling them a "waste of time." A lack of commitment from Iran reportedly prompted Vice President JD Vance to pause his trip to join peace talks. Meanwhile, Iran's navy also said that it had seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
West Texas Intermediate futures rose 0.22% to $93.2 per barrel as of 8:34 p.m. ET. Brent crude added 0.39% to $102.25 per barrel.
Japan's Nikkei 225 reached an all-time intraday high of 60,013.98, supported by strong gains in tech stocks. Softbank Group Corp gained over 6% while Mitsubishi Industries gained 1.86%.
South Korea's Kospi also reached an all-time intraday high of 6,538.72, advancing 1.75%. The small-cap Kosdaq was 0.58% higher. The country's economy grew more than expected in the first three months of the year, recording the fastest growth since the third quarter of 2020. The 1.7% growth in January to March from the previous quarter exceeded Reuters' estimates of 1.0% and rebounded from the 0.2% contraction in the prior quarter.
Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.40%, while the Topix slipped 0.16%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was 0.56% lower. Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures were at 26,169, compared with the index's last close of 26,163.24. The release of the city's March inflation data will be closely watched by investors.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Asian markets may see continued volatility tied to Iran negotiations
Likely · Within weeks
South Korea's Kospi may test higher levels if tech rally continues
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Iran actually submit a unified proposal as Trump demanded?
- How will the continued U.S. blockade of Iranian ports affect oil supplies?
- Will the seized container ships escalate tensions further?
