U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
Asian stock markets surged on Thursday, led by Japanese equities as investors reacted positively to signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran. Growing optimism surrounding a possible U.S.-Iran peace agreement boosted global risk sentiment, sending major Asian indexes sharply higher.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 soared nearly 6% to a record high of 62,958 points after local markets reopened from an extended holiday break. The broader TOPIX index also gained more than 3%, supported by strong performances in technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks. Investor confidence improved further after AMD posted stronger-than-expected earnings, fueling a rally in global semiconductor shares. Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group jumped over 16% amid renewed enthusiasm for AI investments.
Wall Street’s overnight gains also provided strong momentum for Asian markets. Investors welcomed reports suggesting that Washington and Tehran were nearing a diplomatic agreement that could help end the ongoing conflict. Sentiment improved further after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly paused military operations related to ship escorts in the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears of wider geopolitical disruption.
South Korean markets cooled slightly after a powerful rally earlier this year. The KOSPI slipped 0.2% on Thursday but remained the best-performing major Asian index in 2026, posting an impressive 71% year-to-date gain driven largely by semiconductor stocks.
Elsewhere in the region, Australia’s ASX 200 climbed 0.8% despite weaker-than-expected trade data showing an unexpected deficit in March. Chinese equities also advanced, with the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indexes rising around 0.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.5% thanks to strong technology shares.
Reports that the U.S. and China may include artificial intelligence discussions during an upcoming Trump-Xi summit in Beijing later this month also supported market optimism. Meanwhile, Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.3%, while India’s Nifty 50 futures edged 0.5% lower.
