Japan’s Nikkei Jumps Over 4% Amid Middle East Ceasefire Hopes

Tokyo: Japan's Nikkei index surged more than 4 percent on Wednesday, driven by optimism surrounding a potential ceasefire in the Middle East. The possibility of reduced tensions in the region contributed to a significant drop in crude oil prices, alleviating fears of an economic slowdown and resulting in a robust performance for the Japanese stock market. According to Yemen News Agency, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index saw a notable increase of 4.67 percent, reaching 55,923.27 points. The broader Topix index also experienced a rise, climbing 3 percent to 3,763.51 points. The trading session witnessed 212 stocks advancing, with only 10 stocks declining on the Nikkei. The session's biggest percentage gainers included Furukawa Electric, which saw its stock rise by 12.4 percent, and Advantest Corp., which experienced a 9.3 percent increase. The positive movement in these stocks contributed significantly to the overall gains in the index.