Asia-Pacific Markets Rally amid US-Iran Negotiation Optimism, Japan’s Nikkei Tops 65,000

• Indian stock markets showed a tepid start on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with the Sensex down 95 points at pre-open and GIFT Nifty trading lower at 24,035. • The market downturn follows news that the US launched fresh strikes in southern Iran to protect US troops, despite ongoing peace negotiations.

• South Korea's Kospi index reached a new record high on Tuesday as Asia-Pacific markets generally trended higher. • The positive momentum is driven by investor optimism regarding potential breakthroughs in peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

• The Nikkei 225 Index surged 2.8% during early Asian trading on May 25, surpassing the 65,000 mark for the first time with an intraday high of 65,170. • Key contributors to the rally included gains from major companies such as SoftBank Group, Tokyo Electron, and Advantest.

• Asia-Pacific markets are opening higher following a drop in WTI crude oil prices, which fell by more than $4 per barrel. • The decline in oil prices comes after President Donald Trump indicated that peace talks between the US and Iran are progressing in an orderly fashion.

• Japan's Nikkei share average surged past the 65,000 mark for the first time on Monday. • The rally was driven by increased demand for risk assets following optimism regarding potential deals to end the war in Iran.

• Asian stock markets climbed on Monday, with Japan's Nikkei jumping over 3% following optimism surrounding US-Iran peace talks. • Oil prices plunged as investors anticipated a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.

• Indian companies increased their outbound acquisitions in 2025, completing 162 deals worth over $18 billion, representing a 34% year-on-year rise. • The BBC reported on this trend with a headline suggesting these purchases are driven by slowing economic growth within India rather than financial strength.

• The BSE Sensex surged over 1,000 points to close near 76,500, while the Nifty50 ended above the 24,000 mark, both rising approximately 1.4% on Monday. • The rally was supported by positive global cues and a significant 5% plunge in crude oil prices to two-week lows.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that current economic challenges are primarily driven by external factors, specifically citing the rise in global commodity prices. • The Minister emphasized the critical need to maintain economic confidence to navigate these international pressures and stabilize domestic growth.

• European AI startups such as Legora and Lovable are rapidly scaling to challenge the long-standing technological dominance of US-based firms. • Swedish legal AI startup Legora has secured 20% of the 100 highest-grossing US law firms as clients and recently achieved a significant revenue milestone.

• Skanska has been ranked as Europe's Best Employer 2026 in a prestigious list published by the Financial Times in partnership with Statista. • The company maintains a diverse business model, with 90.5% of net sales coming from building and infrastructure construction and 9.3% from real estate development.