Japanese Stocks Jump on Iran Peace Hopes

2026-04-01 00:31 By Joshua Ferrer 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 3.5% to above 52,800, while the broader Topix Index climbed 3.2% to 3,600 on Wednesday, snapping a four-session losing streak amid hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.

President Trump said the US could end military attacks on Iran within two to three weeks and that Tehran would not need to reach a deal as a prerequisite for the conflict winding down.

However, uncertainty remained as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected a ceasefire and instead demanded a full end to the war with guarantees and compensation.

Meanwhile, latest data showed Japan’s large manufacturers’ sentiment improved for a fourth straight quarter, with the Tankan index rising to 17 in March from a revised 16, beating expectations and reinforcing the Bank of Japan’s stance of continuing gradual rate hikes.

Nearly all sectors advanced, led by chip and AI-related shares.

Advantest and SoftBank Group jumped 7% and 6% respectively, while Tokyo Electron gained 3.6%.



News Stream
Japanese Stocks Jump on Iran Peace Hopes
The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 3.5% to above 52,800, while the broader Topix Index climbed 3.2% to 3,600 on Wednesday, snapping a four-session losing streak amid hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict. President Trump said the US could end military attacks on Iran within two to three weeks and that Tehran would not need to reach a deal as a prerequisite for the conflict winding down. However, uncertainty remained as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected a ceasefire and instead demanded a full end to the war with guarantees and compensation. Meanwhile, latest data showed Japan’s large manufacturers’ sentiment improved for a fourth straight quarter, with the Tankan index rising to 17 in March from a revised 16, beating expectations and reinforcing the Bank of Japan’s stance of continuing gradual rate hikes. Nearly all sectors advanced, led by chip and AI-related shares. Advantest and SoftBank Group jumped 7% and 6% respectively, while Tokyo Electron gained 3.6%.
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Japanese Shares Book Sharp Monthly Losses
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.58% to close at 51,064, while the broader Topix Index dropped 1.26% to 3,498 on Tuesday, marking a fourth straight session of losses as heightened uncertainties surrounding the Middle East conflict weighed on investor sentiment. The Nikkei and Topix also declined 13.23% and 11.19%, respectively, for March, recording their worst monthly performances since the 2008 global financial crisis. Japan continued to grapple with elevated energy costs driven by the Iran war, reflecting its heavy reliance on oil imports from the region. The US has sent mixed signals on efforts to end the conflict, with recent reports suggesting President Donald Trump is willing to end the US military campaign against Iran even without the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly all sectors fell on Tuesday, with technology, financial, consumer, and defense stocks leading the decline.
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2026-03-31