Asian stock markets posted strong gains on Tuesday, supported by improving sentiment after comments from United States (US) President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance suggested that recent talks with Iran were not entirely unsuccessful. This boosted demand for risk-sensitive assets across the region.
At the time of writing, Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged more than 2.5% to approach the 58,000 mark. China’s Shanghai Composite advanced around 0.55%, trading slightly above 4,000, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.5% to near 25,785.
Meanwhile, Indian equity markets remained closed on Tuesday in observance of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti.
On Monday, President Trump stated during a press conference that Iran is “very eager” to reach an agreement, while also confirming that US naval forces have imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
Earlier, Vice President Vance noted in an interview with Fox News that the initial round of negotiations held in Pakistan over the weekend provided “valuable insight” into Iran’s negotiating strategy. However, he emphasized that key conditions—including Iran abandoning its nuclear ambitions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz—remain non-negotiable for the US.
Additionally, a CNN report indicated that US officials are internally considering the possibility of a second, face-to-face meeting with Iranian representatives before the two-week ceasefire deadline on April 21. However, it remains uncertain whether such talks will take place.
Looking ahead, investors are expected to closely monitor the upcoming meeting between Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter in Washington, DC, scheduled for 15:00 GMT.
