Nikkei 225, Kospi, Hang Seng Index
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – MARCH 05: A foreign exchange dealer works in front of an electronic screen displaying South Korea’s benchmark stock index (KOSPI) in a foreign exchange trading room at Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on March 05, 2026. The latest flare-up in the Iran conflict has shaken export-dependent markets in South Korea and Japan; Benchmark indices have fallen sharply on fears that rising energy costs and a prolonged hit to risk appetite could hurt corporate earnings and growth in Asia’s trade-led economies. (Photo: Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images)
Han Myung-gu | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Wednesday; With comments from US President Donald Trump indicating that possible talks with Iran have boosted sentiment despite Tehran’s refusal to hold any direct talks with Washington.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said the United States and Iran were “in negotiations right now” and said Tehran was willing to make a peace deal, adding that Iran was backing away from threats targeting its energy infrastructure “based on the fact that we are negotiating.”
of Australia S&P/ASX 200 It was up over 1.41% in early trading.
of japan Nikkei 225 While Topix gained 2.35% in value, it gained 2.53% in value. South Korea’s Kospi rose 2.4%, while the small-cap Kosdaq gained 1.5%.
of hong kong Hang Seng index Futures were at 24,972 compared to the index’s last close of 25,063.71.
Oil prices were lower during Asian trading hours. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 3.92% to $88.73 per barrel.
Overnight in the US, the S&P 500 pulled back, giving back some of the sharp gains seen in the previous session as crude oil prices rose again as the Iran war entered its fourth week.
The broad market index closed at 6,556.37 points, down 0.37 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 84.41 points, or 0.18 percent, at 46,124.06 points. Nasdaq Composite closed at 21,761.89, down 0.84%.
—CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Lisa Kailai Han contributed to this report.
