Apr. 21 at 2:49 AM
Japan’s Nikkei index opened more than 1% higher on Tuesday, supported by gains in technology stocks and expectations of progress in long-term ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
About 40 minutes into trading, the benchmark Nikkei 225 was up 1.01% (593.37 points) at 59,418.26. The broader Topix index edged up 0.13% (4.87 points) to 3,781.89, reflecting more modest gains among large-cap stocks.
Chip-related stocks led the advance, with Tokyo Electron surging 4.07%, Advantest rising 2.4%, and Disco gaining 1.1%, as investor sentiment remained strong toward the semiconductor sector.
SoftBank Group, heavily invested in artificial intelligence, climbed 2.89%, adding to the tech-driven momentum.
In contrast, automakers showed mixed performance: Toyota, the country’s largest company by market value, fell 1.89%, while Honda edged up 0.37%. Industrial and defense-related names were weaker, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries down 2.66% and Kawasaki Heavy Industries dropping 3.97%.
$TM