Japanese Stocks Rise, Market Welcomes Continued US-Iran Talks
Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday morning (April 15), as hopes for easing tensions in the Middle East improved risk sentiment. Market focus was on signs of continued ceasefire talks between the US and Iran, coupled with President Donald Trump's statement that the war was nearing an end.
The Topix index rose 0.8% to 3,785.04 at 9:27 a.m. Tokyo time, while the Nikkei index gained 1.1% to 58,490.63. The gains were broad-based, with 1,456 Topix stocks advancing and 170 declining, indicating a return of risk appetite to Japanese equities.
From a market perspective, SoftBank Group was the largest contributor to the Topix's rise, with its shares surging 5.5%. Such gains in large-cap stocks tend to accelerate index gains, especially when global markets are also in a recovery phase.
According to Kazunori Tatebe of Daiwa Asset Management, the market is currently supported by expectations that US-Iran negotiations will show progress, with encouragement to continue the talks coming from both sides. He added that equity markets often "overcome" short-term weakness—including the temporary impact of rising oil prices on corporate earnings—as long as confidence in the subsequent recovery remains strong. (asd)
Source: Newsmaker.id
