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Asian shares surged in Wednesday morning trading, as oil prices plunged after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 5.0% to 56,106.18 in early trading. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 jumped 2.6% to 8,952.30. South Korea's Kospi soared 5.9% to 5,819.97. Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 2.6% to 25,767.42, while the Shanghai Composite added 1.7% to 3,957.55. Benchmark US crude sank USD16.84 to USD96.11 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard dropped USD14.51 to USD94.76 a barrel. That came as a reaction to the ceasefire as the recent spike in their prices was directly in response to the war, which had effectively blocked passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Much of the world's oil supply is transported through the strait, including oil headed to resource-poor Japan. "Yet the mood remains one of cautious optimism rather than outright celebration. The ceasefire is only two weeks long, and .
Asian shares were mixed in cautious trading on Tuesday, as oil prices continued to surge ahead of a deadline that US President Donald Trump set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic or risk its power plants and bridges being bombed. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 erased earlier gains to decline 0.2 per cent in morning trading to 53,310.30. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.5 per cent to 8,706.90. South Korea's Kospi was little changed, inching down less than 0.1 per cent to 5,445.80. The Shanghai Composite edged up 0.4 per cent to 3,896.98. Trading was closed in Hong Kong for a holiday. On Wall Street, stock prices drifted higher, with the S&P 500 rising 0.4 per cent, coming off its first winning week in the last six. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 165 points, or 0.4 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5 per cent. In energy trading, benchmark US crude jumped USD 2.37 to USD 114.78 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added .
Asian markets that were open for trading mostly rose Monday, as investors continued to closely watch the war in Iran, soaring oil prices and what President Donald Trump might say next. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose nearly 1.1 per cent to 53,692.42 in morning trading. South Korea's Kospi gained 1.5 per cent to 5,460.24. Trading was closed in Australia for Easter, and in Hong Kong and Shanghai for a traditional Chinese holiday. The Tuesday deadline Trump has given for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz is looming. Some analyst fear the war may escalate after that. Over the weekend Trump made more threats against Iran, even as the bombing continued in the region. The United States rescued two aviators whose fighter jet was shot down by Iran. The key market focus continues to be on oil prices. Benchmark US crude gained 38 cents to USD 111.92 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added USD 1.71 to USD 110.74 a barrel. Energy markets were closed Friday, but the prices ha
Oil prices continued to surge on worries of a prolonged Iran war, but the Asian markets that were open Friday rose moderately in cautious trading, while others were closed for the Good Friday holidays. Benchmark US crude rose 11.4 per cent to USD 111.54 a barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 7.8 per cent to USD 109.03 per barrel. "A more extended conflict raises the threat to physical infrastructure, extends disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, and will entail a longer post-war recovery period, with price impacts spilling over later into the year," according to a report from BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. The US only relies on the Persian Gulf for a fraction of the oil it imports, but oil is a commodity and prices are set in a global market. The situation is very different in Asia. Japan, for example, relies on access to the Strait of Hormuz for much of the nation's oil import needs and would need to rely on alternative routes. But some analyst
Asian shares were sharply higher Wednesday after US stocks soared to their best day since last spring on renewed hopes that the Iran war could soon end. South Korea's Kospi surged 5.2 per cent to 5,312.45 in early trading, while Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rose 3.5 per cent to 52,840.67. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 1.9 per cent to 8,641.30. The renewed optimism came after US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States will be done attacking Iran probably in two to three weeks, and that the US "will not have anything to do with" what happens next in the Strait of Hormuz. The White House said Trump will deliver a public address Wednesday evening on the Iran war. Trump's remarks came after he told US allies to "go get your own oil" and blamed them for refusing to be more involved in its war effort. Significant maritime traffic disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly a fifth of the world's oil typically passes through, has sent energy prices surging and is fueling ...
Asian stocks were mostly lower and oil prices gained on Thursday as a de-escalation of the Iran war remained uncertain. US futures were down 0.1 per cent. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was trading 0.3 per cent lower at 53,607.75. South Korea's Kospi lost 1.9 per cent to 5,537.30. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.4 per cent to 24,978.71, while the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.6 per cent to 3,909.16. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.2 per cent, while Taiwan's Taiex was trading 0.4 per cent higher. Oil prices were up again on Thursday after an earlier dip. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 1.3 per cent to USD 98.51 per barrel. It was below USD 95 on Wednesday. Benchmark US crude was 1.6 per cent higher at USD 91.75 a barrel. The rise in oil prices came as Tehran on Wednesday dismissed a ceasefire plan by the US, after the administration of US President Donald Trump offered a 15-point proposal to Iran and Trump this week delayed a self-imposed deadline to "obliterate" its ...
Oil prices fell more than 5 per cent and Asian shares gained on Wednesday over possibilities of a de-escalation of the Iran war and negotiations between the United States and Iran. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was up 2.8 per cent to 53,721.30 in early trading. South Korea's Kospi gained 3.1 per cent to 5,728.22. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.2 per cent to 25,374.95, while the Shanghai Composite index was 0.9 per cent higher at 3,914.09. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 2.2 per cent. Taiwan's Taiex was up 3 per cent. The administration of US President Donald Trump is said to have offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran. Trump's claims of progress being made from talks with Iran this week and his postponement on Monday of a deadline to "obliterate" Iran's power plants over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have also fuelled optimism that an end to the Iran war could come soon. With the Strait of Hormuz being a key waterway for crude oil and liquefied natural gas transport, oil and gas ..
Asian benchmarks mostly rebounded Tuesday, echoing cautious relief that swept through Wall Street after President Donald Trump said the United States has talked with Iran about a possible end to their war. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.1 per cent in morning trading to 52,093.02, recovering some of the losses it suffered the previous day. Toyota Motor Corp's stock price gained 1.1 per cent in morning trading after it announced overnight that it was investing USD 1 billion in its Kentucky and Indiana auto plants. That's part of a plan to invest up to USD 10 billion in the US over the next five years that the Japanese automaker announced in November. Japanese manufacturers have been eager to show their contribution to American jobs and economic growth. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5 per cent to 8,404.00. South Korea's Kospi jumped 2.2 per cent to 5,526.24. Global markets have been on a roller coaster ride over worries about the war in Iran, which began in late February, ...
Asian shares advanced Tuesday as US stocks held steady while investors awaited signals on when the war with Iran may end. US futures and oil prices edged higher. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 2.1% to 55,387.75 and South Korea's Kospi surged 3.5% to 5,724.30. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 0.3% to 26,039.23, while the Shanghai Composite index inched up 0.1% to 4,127.34. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5% to $8,738.50. Taiwan's benchmark climbed 3.9%. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 dipped 0.2% to 6,781.48, a day after its latest wild swings caused by extreme moves in the oil market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 34 points, or 0.1% to 47,706.51 and the Nasdaq composite edged higher by less than 0.1% to 22,697.10. Oil prices have remained sharply below their peaks hit on Monday. Such spikes have been rocking financial markets worldwide because of worries that the war could block the global flow of oil and natural gas for a long time. Early Wednesday, the price for a barrel of ...