Market Expects Middle East War to End Soon, Asian Stocks Mostly Higher
Asian stock markets, including Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul, closed higher due to investor optimism about the imminent end of the US-Iran conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been virtually closed since early March, as well as a surge in US technology stocks driven by AI demand. International oil prices continued to fall.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 18:27
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US-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Hong Kong, 7th, comprehensive foreign report) Investors' optimistic expectations that the United States and Iran are about to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been virtually closed since early March, coupled with a surge in US technology stocks driven by artificial intelligence (AI) demand, led to a collective rise in Asian stock markets, including Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul.
According to AFP, international oil prices continued to fall today, extending their weak trend this week, influenced by market expectations of an impending end to the US-Iran conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump's statement yesterday that the US and Iran were close to reaching an agreement significantly boosted market risk appetite.
Trump posted on his social media platform "Truth Social": "Assuming Iran agrees to fulfill the terms already negotiated (which may be a big assumption), then the legendary 'Epic Fury' operation will end, and the extremely effective blockade will open the Strait of Hormuz to everyone, including Iran."
US news website Axios quoted two US officials as saying that the White House believes it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and establish a framework for subsequent, more detailed nuclear negotiations.
Tehran has not yet responded to the US proposal, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei emphasizing that the proposal is "still under review."
International oil prices continued to fall today, having dropped 10% in the past two trading days.
Investors are mostly optimistic that the agreement can be reached, and recent strong earnings reports from US companies have further boosted US stocks to new highs.
In Asian stocks, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index surged 3320.72 points, or 5.58%, today, closing at 62833.84 points. Stock markets in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, Sydney, Wellington, and Manila all closed higher. (Compiler: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150507
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Hong Kong, 7th, comprehensive foreign report) Investors' optimistic expectations that the United States and Iran are about to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been virtually closed since early March, coupled with a surge in US technology stocks driven by artificial intelligence (AI) demand, led to a collective rise in Asian stock markets, including Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul.
According to AFP, international oil prices continued to fall today, extending their weak trend this week, influenced by market expectations of an impending end to the US-Iran conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump's statement yesterday that the US and Iran were close to reaching an agreement significantly boosted market risk appetite.
Trump posted on his social media platform "Truth Social": "Assuming Iran agrees to fulfill the terms already negotiated (which may be a big assumption), then the legendary 'Epic Fury' operation will end, and the extremely effective blockade will open the Strait of Hormuz to everyone, including Iran."
US news website Axios quoted two US officials as saying that the White House believes it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and establish a framework for subsequent, more detailed nuclear negotiations.
Tehran has not yet responded to the US proposal, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei emphasizing that the proposal is "still under review."
International oil prices continued to fall today, having dropped 10% in the past two trading days.
Investors are mostly optimistic that the agreement can be reached, and recent strong earnings reports from US companies have further boosted US stocks to new highs.
In Asian stocks, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index surged 3320.72 points, or 5.58%, today, closing at 62833.84 points. Stock markets in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, Sydney, Wellington, and Manila all closed higher. (Compiler: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150507
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to keep abreast of the latest news.
No text, images, or videos on this website may be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.