Asia-Pacific stock markets showed a mixed performance on Tuesday. Reports indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump postponed a planned military strike against Iran. While oil prices remained elevated, they retreated slightly from recent highs.
As of 4:25 a.m. ET, the international benchmark Brent crude for July delivery fell 1.3% to $110.60 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude futures declined 0.06% to $108.59 per barrel.
Investors focused on Japan's first-quarter GDP data. The economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.1% in the first three months of the year, surpassing the 1.7% growth forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll and exceeding the previous quarter's 1.3% growth. This data does not yet fully reflect the impact of the Iran conflict, which escalated in late February.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose initially but later gave up gains, closing down 0.44% at 60,550.59 points.
Markets were also attentive to a summit scheduled for later in the day between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. South Korea's Kospi index extended its early losses, dropping more than 3% to 7,271.66 points.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 1.17% at 8,604.70 points.
China's CSI 300 index gained 0.4% to 4,852.88 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.48% to 25,797.85 points.
India's Nifty 50 index advanced 0.18%. Shares of companies linked to Indian billionaire Gautam Adani rose after U.S. authorities dropped fraud charges against him. Adani Enterprises climbed 1.79%, and Adani Green Energy increased 1.81%.
**Major Index Closes:** * S&P/ASX 200: 8,604.70 (+1.17%) * Hang Seng Index: 25,797.85 (+0.48%) * KOSPI: 7,271.66 (-3.25%) * Nikkei 225: 60,550.59 (-0.44%) * NIFTY 50: 23,687.00 (+0.16%) * Shanghai Composite: 4,169.54 (+0.92%)
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump stated that, at the request of the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, he had instructed the military to cancel a "strike on Iran scheduled for tomorrow."
He added, "A deal will be reached that will be very satisfactory to the U.S., Middle Eastern countries, and indeed the rest of the world. Importantly, the deal will stipulate: Iran must not possess nuclear weapons!"
However, Trump also warned that if a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, he has directed the military to "be ready to launch a full-scale, massive attack on Iran at any time."
Despite the temporary pause in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded by Iran, while the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports.
Moody's noted in a report, "With the Middle East conflict entering its third month, a swift and lasting reconciliation between the U.S. and Iran is unlikely, and a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains difficult."
**U.S. Stock Futures:** * S&P 500 futures: +0.1% * Nasdaq 100 futures: +0.2% * Dow Jones Industrial Average futures: +25 points (+0.05%)
**Monday's U.S. Market Close:** * S&P 500: 7,403.05 (-0.07%) * Nasdaq: 26,090.73 (-0.51%) — marking a second consecutive day of declines * Dow Jones: 49,686.12 (+159.95 points, +0.32%)
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