Asia-Pacific markets open higher as investors assess U.S.-Iran peace deal diplomacy
A screen displays share prices inside the Kabuto One building in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, April 13, 2026. Oil surged and stocks fell after President
A screen displays share prices inside the Kabuto One building in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, April 13, 2026. Oil surged and stocks fell after President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with Iran following the collapse of weekend peace talks. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Friday as investors assess U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts at reaching a peace deal in the Middle East.
While oil prices fell in U.S. trading on hopes of a deal, reports that Tehran intends to keep its enriched uranium stockpile within the country stand to complicate negotiations with Washington as President Donald Trump has made dismantling Iran's nuclear program a central objective of his military action against Tehran. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.36%, while the Topix added 0.55%.
Japan's core inflation eased more than expected in April to its lowest level since March 2022, weakening the case for an early rate hike by the Bank of Japan. Core inflation — which strips out prices of fresh food — came in at 1.4%, lower than the 1.7% expected by economists polled by Reuters and below the 1.8% reading in March.
South Korea's Kospi was up 0.52%, while the Kosdaq Index jumped over 3%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.5%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures were last at 25,568, higher than the index's last close of 25,386.52.
The BriefWire