The Nikkei 225 Index rose 1.5% to trade above 59,000 on Thursday, moving closer to fresh record levels as optimism built around a potential agreement to end the Middle East conflict. Reports suggested Washington and Tehran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to allow additional time for peace negotiations, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed amid a dual blockade. Japanese equities also tracked Wall Street’s record-setting rally overnight, supported by strong bank earnings and renewed demand for technology shares. Tech and AI-linked stocks led gains in Japan, with notable advances in SoftBank Group (2.3%), Fujikura (2.4%), and Advantest (1.5%). Other index heavyweights also strengthened, including JX Advanced Metals (1.9%), Mitsubishi UFJ (1.5%), and Daikin Industries (10.8%).
