Japan’s Nikkei Hits Fresh Record High

2026-04-16 06:58 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 2.38% to close at 59,518 on Thursday, hitting a new all-time high as optimism grew around a potential agreement to end the Middle East conflict.

Reports indicated Washington and Tehran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to allow more time for peace negotiations, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed under a dual blockade.

Japanese equities also followed Wall Street’s record-setting rally overnight, supported by robust bank earnings and renewed interest in technology shares.

Tech and AI-related stocks led the advance, with strong gains from SoftBank Group (5.1%), Kioxia Holdings (4.5%), and Fujikura (4.7%).

Daikin Industries also surged 9.1% after activist investor Elliott Investment Management disclosed a stake in the company and called for reforms to unlock shareholder value.



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