The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 1.5% on Thursday to trade above 59,000, edging closer to fresh record highs as optimism grew over a possible agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East. Reports indicated that Washington and Tehran are considering extending their current two-week ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut under a dual blockade.
Japanese stocks also drew support from Wall Street’s record-setting rally overnight, underpinned by strong bank earnings and renewed appetite for technology shares. Tech and AI-related names led the advance in Tokyo, with notable gains in SoftBank Group (up 2.3%), Fujikura (2.4%), and Advantest (1.5%). Other major index constituents also firmed, including JX Advanced Metals (1.9%), Mitsubishi UFJ (1.5%), and Daikin Industries, which surged 10.8%.
