Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 2.59%, Shanghai Composite up 0.47% Hang Seng up 1.27% ASX up 0.47%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,529.72 (-0.32%) Silver at $76.868 (-0.22%), Brent Oil at $103.90 (-0.97%), WTI Oil at $97.09 (-0.93%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.570, UK 10-year yield at 4.9680, Germany 10-year yield at 3.1012
News & Data:
- (USD) Unemployment Claims 209K to 210K expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher Friday as investors monitored diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East. Sentiment improved despite reports that Tehran plans to keep its enriched uranium stockpile within the country, a move that could complicate negotiations with Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has made dismantling Iran’s nuclear program a key objective of his military campaign against Tehran.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.36%, while the Topix advanced 0.55%. Data showed Japan’s core inflation slowed more than expected in April to 1.4%, the weakest level since March 2022, reducing pressure on the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates soon. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.59%, while the tech-heavy Kosdaq jumped more than 5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.55%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 1.22%, and mainland China’s CSI 300 gained 0.70%. India’s Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex both traded over 0.4% higher.
Oil prices rebounded after the previous session’s decline, with Brent crude rising 1.46% to $104.08 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude adding 0.93% to $97.25. Meanwhile, Wall Street closed higher overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching a fresh record high.
Upcoming Events:
- 12:30 PM GMT – CAD Core Retail Sales m/m
The post Friday 22nd May 2026: Asia-Pacific Markets Rise as Investors Track U.S.-Iran Peace Efforts and Cooling Inflation Data first appeared on IC Your Trading Edge | Official Blog.