Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 1.13%, Shanghai Composite down 1.11% Hang Seng down 0.80% ASX up 0.19%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,536.76 (0.04%) Silver at $77.000 (0.51%), Brent Oil at $95.14 (-1.58%), WTI Oil at $92.18 (-1.79%)8
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.470, UK 10-year yield at 4.8780, Germany 10-year yield at 2.9836
News & Data:
- (USD) CB Consumer Confidence 93.1 to 91.9 expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets climbed Wednesday, with Japan and South Korea’s benchmark indexes reaching fresh highs as investors monitored recent U.S. military action in Iran, the fragile Washington-Tehran ceasefire and hopes that diplomatic negotiations could still produce a deal.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 1.49% to a record high, while the TOPIX gained 0.57%. In South Korea, the KOSPI surged 4.84%, though the smaller KOSDAQ slipped 0.68%. Shares of Samsung Electronics jumped 6% after unionized workers approved a provisional wage agreement, easing concerns over a potential strike that could have disrupted global semiconductor supply chains.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.13%. In Greater China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was little changed, while mainland China’s CSI 300 rose 0.27%.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces conducted what the Pentagon called “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and vessels allegedly laying mines, despite Washington maintaining its commitment to the ceasefire. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were “proceeding nicely,” but warned military action could resume if talks collapse.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed at record highs, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.23%.
Upcoming Events:
- 12:15 PM GMT – USD ADP Weekly Employment Change
