TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei share average closed at a more than one-month high on Wednesday, as prospects of a new round of peace talks between the United States and Iran lifted investor sentiment and sent crude oil prices lower.
The Nikkei climbed 0.44% to finish the session at 58,134.24, the highest since its record close on February 27 and nearly recouping all losses since the start of the US-Iran war the following day. The Nikkei rose as much as 1.2% earlier in the session. The broader Topix rose 0.4% to 3,770.33.
“Investors started selling stocks to book profits as the Nikkei approached a record high,” said Naoki Fujiwara, a senior fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management.
“There are still uncertainties about the fate of the Middle East war. It is hard to imagine the Nikkei will post a new record high anytime soon.”