Key Moments
- Brent and U.S. crude oil prices rose more than 4% in early trading following fresh geopolitical developments involving Iran.
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4% to 62,486.84 after touching an intraday record above 63,300, while South Korea’s Kospi jumped 4.1% to 7,804.71.
- Technology and artificial-intelligence-related stocks have driven gains of more than 10% in the Nikkei 225 and over 30% in the Kospi over the past month.
Crude Prices Spike on Middle East Tensions
Oil markets moved sharply higher in early trading, with both Brent and U.S. crude benchmarks advancing more than 4% as market participants reacted to the latest geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
The price surge followed Donald Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s response to the latest U.S. proposal aimed at resolving the conflict in Iran and addressing its effects on trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Equity Futures and Asia-Pacific Market Performance
In equity markets, U.S. futures traded modestly lower, signaling a softer open for Wall Street.
Asian markets showed a mixed picture. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.4% to close at 62,486.84. The index had earlier touched another intraday record, climbing above 63,300 before pulling back.
By contrast, South Korea’s Kospi advanced 4.1% to 7,804.71. The benchmark also set a new intraday record, supported largely by strength in technology-related names, including Samsung Electronics and memory chip producer SK Hynix.
| Index | Move | Level | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 (Tokyo) | -0.4% | 62,486.84 | Briefly traded above 63,300 intraday |
| Kospi (South Korea) | +4.1% | 7,804.71 | Set an all-time intraday high |
Tech and AI Momentum Underpins Regional Gains
Despite the ongoing conflict in Iran, equity markets in Japan and South Korea have been buoyed by sustained interest in technology-related companies and growing enthusiasm around artificial intelligence.
Over the past month, the Nikkei 225 has risen more than 10%, while the Kospi has climbed over 30%, with tech and AI-linked stocks acting as key drivers of this performance.
Trump Set for High-Level Talks in China
Separately, Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China this week for discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The agenda for the talks is expected to cover a broad range of issues, including trade-related concerns.
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