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Market_update Score 65 Bullish

Asia-Pacific Markets Rally on Hopes for Hormuz Strait Reopening

Apr 03, 2026 00:15 UTC
^HSI, ^N225, CL=F
Short term

Asia-Pacific markets rose in the Easter trade as news of potential monitoring agreements for the Strait of Hormuz sparked optimism. South Korea's Kospi and Japan's Nikkei 225 led regional gains.

  • Asia-Pacific markets rose in the Easter trade due to hopes for the Hormuz Strait reopening.
  • South Korea's Kospi gained 3.25%, and Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.67%.
  • U.S. crude futures jumped 12% to $112.06 per barrel, while Brent crude was up 8% at $109.24.
  • The spot price for Brent crude reached $141.36, the highest since the 2008 financial crisis.
  • The Australian and Hong Kong markets were closed for the Easter weekend.
  • U.S. futures showed mixed performance, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures up 0.02%.

Asia-Pacific markets rose in the Easter trade as news of potential monitoring agreements for the Strait of Hormuz sparked optimism. South Korea's Kospi and Japan's Nikkei 225 led regional gains. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil-shipping route, has been a focal point of geopolitical tensions, and recent discussions between Iran and Oman on a protocol to 'monitor transit' raised hopes for a partial reopening. This development could alleviate supply concerns and boost regional trade. Oil prices continued to rise, with U.S. crude futures jumping almost 12% to trade at $112.06 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent was up around 8% at $109.24. The spot price for current physical cargoes of Brent crude oil soared to $141.36, the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, according to S&P Global. South Korea's Kospi led gains in the region, rising 3.25%, while the small-cap Kosdaq rose 2.15%. Japan's Nikkei 225 was up 1.67%, and the broad-based Topix was 1.38% higher. The Australian and Hong Kong markets were closed for the Easter weekend. U.S. futures were little changed, with S&P 500 futures flat, and the Nasdaq-100 futures down 0.07%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 9 points, or 0.02%. Overnight in the U.S., markets saw a volatile session amid rising oil prices, but the major indexes ended little changed, with the blue-chip Dow declining 61.07 points, or 0.13%. The S&P 500 advanced 0.11%, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.18%.

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