Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal

Asian stock markets mostly advanced on Thursday, led by strong gains in Japan and South Korea after reports emerged that the United States and Iran had signed a framework agreement aimed at ending their nearly four-month conflict. The development boosted investor confidence and lifted global market sentiment.

The agreement, reportedly signed remotely by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s leadership, outlines a path toward ending hostilities in the Middle East and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. The two countries are expected to engage in 60 days of negotiations to finalize a broader deal, with Iran’s nuclear program remaining a central issue. However, Trump warned that military action could resume if Iran fails to comply with the terms.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged nearly 2% to a record high of 71,477 points, while the TOPIX index also reached an all-time peak. South Korea’s KOSPI climbed almost 1% to a record 8,976.55 points. Technology and semiconductor stocks drove gains as investors continued to bet on strong artificial intelligence demand. SK Hynix rose 5% after announcing shipments of advanced memory chip samples to major customers. Japanese technology-related firms, including Murata Manufacturing, Aibiden, and SoftBank Group, also posted strong gains.

Elsewhere, Australia’s ASX 200 declined 0.5%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged 0.2% higher. India’s Nifty 50 futures gained 0.6% as lower oil prices improved expectations for economic growth. Chinese markets were mixed, with the CSI 300 rising 0.1% and the Shanghai Composite slipping 0.4%.

Hong Kong remained the region’s weakest performer. The Hang Seng Index fell 1.8% to its lowest level since July 2025 as major technology companies, including Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, and Xiaomi, recorded losses. Investor preference for AI-focused and semiconductor stocks in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan reduced demand for Hong Kong internet shares.

Market sentiment in Hong Kong was also hurt by concerns over Beijing’s tighter restrictions on mainland investments into the city, raising fears of reduced capital inflows. Financial and wealth-management-related stocks faced the most pressure. Despite the broader decline, several Hong Kong-listed AI companies outperformed, with Zhipu rising 15% and MiniMax gaining 9.6%.

Overall, optimism surrounding the potential US-Iran peace agreement and continued enthusiasm for AI and semiconductor stocks helped support most Asian markets, even as concerns over monetary policy and regional investment restrictions continued to weigh on select sectors.