Asian stocks jump on renewed hopes of Iran war ending

apnews.com • April 1, 2026 • business

Key Points:

Asian stock markets surged significantly, with South Korea’s Kospi rising 6.4% and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbing 4%, driven by renewed hopes for a de-escalation of the Iran conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that U.S. military actions against Iran could end within two to three weeks, contributing to market optimism despite ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices increased again, with Brent crude up 1.5% to $105.48 per barrel, amid concerns over disrupted maritime traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which has also pushed U.S. gas prices above $4 per gallon.
U.S. stock markets posted their best day in nearly a year, with the S&P 500 gaining 2.9%, the Dow Jones rising 2.5%, and the Nasdaq jumping 3.8%, supported by strong performances in semiconductor and pharmaceutical stocks.
Gold prices rose 0.7%, while the U.S. dollar weakened slightly against the Japanese yen and the euro strengthened marginally against the dollar.

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