Nikkei Climbs Nearly 1,400 Points on Peace Talks Hopes

Tokyo, April 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average gained nearly 1,400 points on Tuesday, reflecting improved investor sentiment amid hopes for continued peace talks between the United States and Iran. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime section closed at 57,877.39, up 1,374.62 points, or 2.43 pct, from Monday. The broader TOPIX index climbed 32.26 points, or 0.87 pct, to 3,755.27. Buying spread from the outset of Tuesday’s trading, following overnight rises in major U.S. stock indexes triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks that Iran wants a deal to end the conflict between the two nations. The stock market was also supported by a fall in U.S. crude oil futures. The Nikkei average was “driven by technology stocks, such as those related to artificial intelligence and semiconductors,” reflecting the U.S. SOX Philadelphia semiconductor index hitting a new record high overnight, said an official of a domestic securities firm. “As concerns over the Middle East situation waned, the stock market is returning to normalcy, where stocks with high growth potential are bought,” another brokerage firm official said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]