Asian Stock Markets Hit New Highs Again... Nikkei Surpasses 65,000 for the First Time

Progress in US-Iran Talks
Expectations Rise for Reopening of Strait of Hormuz

As peace negotiations between the United States and Iran made progress, expectations grew that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, driving Asia's major stock markets to new record highs. Japan's Nikkei 225 index surpassed the 65,000 mark for the first time, and Taiwan's Taiex index also soared to an intraday high of 43,645.78 points, reaching a new all-time peak.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) and other sources on the 25th, the Nikkei 225 Average (Nikkei Index), the benchmark stock index for the Japanese market, closed at 65,158.19, up 1,819.12 points (2.87%) from the previous trading day. The JPX Nikkei Index 400 finished at 35,781.11, an increase of 476.94 points (1.35%) from the previous session, while the TOPIX index closed at 3,942.57, up 50.11 points (1.29%).

People are passing in front of the Nikkei 225 index displayed on an electronic board at a securities firm in Tokyo, Japan, on the 25th. Photo by AP

Nikkei reported that concerns over excessive inflation have eased after international oil prices fell, following speculation that a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran was imminent. With long-term interest rates also declining, the heavy weighting of growth stocks in the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor sectors led to reduced pressure from high valuations and concentrated buying demand in these areas.

The Taiwan stock market also hit a record high amid easing tensions in the Middle East. According to the Central News Agency (CNA), the Taiex index closed at 43,440.40, a sharp rise of 3.26%. During intraday trading, it soared to 43,645.78 points, surpassing the previous intraday record high set on the 22nd. TSMC, the world's largest foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) company and Taiwan's largest listed firm by market capitalization, led the rally with a 2.44% increase.

The Shanghai Composite Index, China's main stock index, also finished the session nearly 1% higher. SMIC, China's largest foundry company, briefly hit the daily upper limit near the close on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, setting a new all-time high.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.