Asia-pacific markets: U.S., Iran, Negotiations
An electronic stock exchange board shows the Nikkei 225 Stock Average in front of a securities firm in Tokyo, Japan, on January 28, 2025.
Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed on Thursday as Iran’s parliament speaker accused the United States of violating the terms of a two-week ceasefire agreement.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump declared a “bilateral” ceasefire with Iran, more than a month after the war.
“I agree to a two-week suspension of bombings and attacks against Iran,” Trump said. Real Social post. “We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran and we believe this is a workable basis for negotiation.”
The ceasefire was conditional on Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to the statement made by the Iranian Foreign Minister, Tehran said that it would stop “defense” operations if the attacks against the country were stopped. According to media reports, Israel also accepted the ceasefire.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Galibaf later accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement. He said the violations included the denial of the Islamic Republic’s right to enrich uranium and Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon and drone entry into Iranian airspace.
South Korea’s Kospi index was down 0.6%, while the small-cap Kosdaq was flat. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was marginally higher at 0.12%, while the Topix gained 0.26%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.24%.
May West Texas Intermediate futures rose 2.3% to $96.63 per barrel at 20:20 ET. International comparison Brent June futures contracts rose 1.87% to $96.50 per barrel.
S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.1 percent. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 32 points, or less than 0.1%.
U.S. stocks rose after President Donald Trump suspended strikes on Iran for two weeks, pausing a five-week conflict that has blocked a key waterway for global energy supplies.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,325.46 points, or 2.85%, to 47,909.92. It was the gauge’s best day since April 2025, when Trump first backed away from the seriousness of his first tariff announcement.
The S&P 500 index increased by 2.51% to 6,782.81 points, and the Nasdaq Composite index increased by 2.80% to 22,635.00 points.
— Sarah Min, John Melloy and Lisa Kailai Han contributed to the report
