S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Malaysia Central Bank Moves to Support Ringgit Amid Foreign Fund Outflows 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Asian equity markets posted strong gains on Wednesday, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks signaling a potential end to military operations against Iran within two to three weeks. Renewed investor optimism, combined with bargain hunting following steep losses in March, fueled broad-based buying across the region.
South Korea's KOSPI led regional gains with an impressive 6.5% surge, recovering from a brutal March that saw the index shed over 19% of its value. Semiconductor heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each climbed as much as 10%, bouncing back from significant declines tied to concerns over long-term artificial intelligence-driven chip demand. Adding to the bullish momentum, South Korea reported a 48.3% jump in exports for March, while manufacturing activity expanded further according to the latest purchasing managers index figures.
Japan's Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indexes followed closely, gaining approximately 4% and 3.9%, respectively. Australia's ASX 200 and Singapore's Straits Times index each advanced around 1.7%. In mainland China, the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite rose roughly 1.4% apiece, even as private PMI data revealed slower-than-expected manufacturing growth. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.8%, boosted by a rebound in technology stocks.
The catalyst behind Wednesday's rally was Trump's announcement that Washington had largely achieved its objectives in Iran, including weakening its nuclear program and facilitating a change in Tehran's government. He indicated that no formal deal was required for a U.S. military withdrawal.
Despite the positive sentiment, uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil shipping corridor responsible for roughly 20% of global oil supply — kept energy markets on edge. Reports suggest the U.S. may rely on European, Asian, and Gulf allies to reopen the passage, leaving oil prices elevated amid ongoing supply concerns.
Wall Street also contributed to Asia's upbeat session, with overnight gains in U.S. equities and S&P 500 Futures edging up 0.2% in early trading.
