Nikkei 225 Hits Record Above 71,000 as US‑Iran Peace Boosts Asian Markets

The Nikkei 225 surged past the 71,000 level for the first time, logging a fourth consecutive session of all‑time highs and closing around 71,250‑71,680. South Korea’s KOSPI also hit record levels. The rally was sparked by the signing of a US‑Iran memorandum to end hostilities, which drove crude oil prices below $80 per barrel and revived risk appetite across Asian equities.

A weak yen near 160‑161 per dollar, strong demand for semiconductor and AI‑related stocks, and a 17 % year‑on‑year jump in Japanese export shipments further buoyed the market. Japan’s inflation remained modest at about 1.5 % and the Bank of Japan kept policy rates unchanged while hinting at a possible future hike. Meanwhile, a hawkish tone from the new US Federal Reserve chair reinforced dollar strength, influencing currency dynamics and adding to the yen’s depreciation.