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Asian equity markets posted strong gains on Wednesday, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks signaling a potential end to military operations against Iran within two to three weeks. Renewed investor optimism, combined with bargain hunting following steep losses in March, fueled broad-based buying across the region.
South Korea's KOSPI led regional gains with an impressive 6.5% surge, recovering from a brutal March that saw the index shed over 19% of its value. Semiconductor heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each climbed as much as 10%, bouncing back from significant declines tied to concerns over long-term artificial intelligence-driven chip demand. Adding to the bullish momentum, South Korea reported a 48.3% jump in exports for March, while manufacturing activity expanded further according to the latest purchasing managers index figures.
Japan's Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indexes followed closely, gaining approximately 4% and 3.9%, respectively. Australia's ASX 200 and Singapore's Straits Times index each advanced around 1.7%. In mainland China, the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite rose roughly 1.4% apiece, even as private PMI data revealed slower-than-expected manufacturing growth. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.8%, boosted by a rebound in technology stocks.
The catalyst behind Wednesday's rally was Trump's announcement that Washington had largely achieved its objectives in Iran, including weakening its nuclear program and facilitating a change in Tehran's government. He indicated that no formal deal was required for a U.S. military withdrawal.
Despite the positive sentiment, uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil shipping corridor responsible for roughly 20% of global oil supply — kept energy markets on edge. Reports suggest the U.S. may rely on European, Asian, and Gulf allies to reopen the passage, leaving oil prices elevated amid ongoing supply concerns.
Wall Street also contributed to Asia's upbeat session, with overnight gains in U.S. equities and S&P 500 Futures edging up 0.2% in early trading.
