Nikkei Surges Past 72,000 Points to New Record High on U.S.-Iran Peace Optimism

The Nikkei index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange reached a historic intraday high on Monday, surpassing 72,000 points for the first time. The main index surged by nearly 2% in early trading, marking the third consecutive day of record-breaking performance. This optimism is largely fueled by the announcement that the United States and Iran have agreed on a roadmap to end their conflict within a 60-day timeframe. Mediators Qatar and Pakistan released a statement confirming the pact between Washington and Tehran. By mid-morning, the Nikkei had gained 1.82%, or 1,296.35 points, reaching 72,546.41. The broader Topix index, which includes companies in the main section of the exchange, also saw gains, rising 1.2%, or 48.41 points, to 4,093.37. Advantest, a semiconductor firm, saw its stock jump 1.04%. SoftBank, the telecommunications and investment group known for its significant investments in artificial intelligence, including OpenAI, experienced a 2.26% increase. In contrast, Toyota, a leading vehicle manufacturer, saw its shares decline by 0.45%, while electronics and entertainment giant Sony's stock rose by 0.86%.