Asian markets settle higher on Wednesday
Chinese and Hong Kong shares soared as the yuan strengthened against the US dollar
Asian markets settled higher on Wednesday tracking Wall Street’s gains overnight on optimism regarding a de-escalation in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump stated that the US could end military attacks on Iran within two to three weeks, even without a formal agreement. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran had the necessary will to end the conflict, provided that safeguards are in place to prevent renewed hostilities. Chinese and Hong Kong shares soared as the yuan strengthened against the US dollar. Moreover, Japanese shares gained after the Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan survey showed business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers improved in the three months to March, a sign that increasing economic uncertainty from the Middle East conflict has yet to hit morale.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,948.55 | 56.69 | 1.46 |
| Hang Seng | 25,294.03 | 505.89 | 2.04 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,184.44 | 136.22 | 1.93 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,708.90 | 18.54 | 1.10 |
| Nikkei 225 | 53,739.68 | 2,675.96 | 5.24 |
| Straits Times | 4,975.83 | 90.38 | 1.85 |
| KOSPI Composite | 5,478.70 | 426.24 | 8.44 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 33,174.82 | 1,451.83 | 4.58 |
