Market Update
Japan TUESDAY
Akira Ito
24 Mar, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's benchmark indexes erased early gains on Tuesday after crude oil resumed its advance.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 0.6%, and the broader Topix index added 1.5% amid hopes of de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
The U.S. president claimed that Iran's "top person" is negotiating with the U.S., and both sides are inching closer to an "agreement."
However, Iran's leaders denied the existence of such talks and asserted that Trump is looking for ways to buy time to prepare for a ground invasion.
Brent crude oil jumped 4.4% to $104.26 a barrel as investors rejected Trump's claims of a possible resumption of energy product shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Metals, commodities, and energy markets overlooked Trump's misleading comments, and crude oil prices rose and precious metals declined amid worries of major central banks lifting rates.
Japan's consumer price inflation in February dropped to the lowest level since March 2022, and core inflation eased for the third consecutive month.
Japan's annual consumer price inflation slowed to 1.3% from 1.5% in February, said the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on Tuesday.
The central government's subsidy for the electricity price and rice supported the easing of overall and core inflation.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food prices, eased to 1.6% from 2.0% in January, and fell to below the central bank's target rate of 2.0% for the first time since March 2022.
Despite the steady decline in the annual rate of inflation since October, prices are likely to rebound amid a surge in prices of imported energy products because of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.6% to 51,843.73, and the broader Topix Index added 1.5% to 3,538.39.
China Indexes Rebounded Amid a Lull In Middle East Conflict
Li Chen
24 Mar, 2026
Hong Kong
Stocks in China, Hong Kong, and Asia rebounded amid a lull in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
The Hang Seng Index gained 1.4%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index edged up 0.5%.
The U.S. president claimed that Iran's "top person" is negotiating with the U.S., and both sides are inching closer to an "agreement."
However, Iran's leaders denied the existence of such talks and asserted that Trump is looking for ways to buy time to prepare for a ground invasion.
Brent crude oil jumped 4% to $103.93 a barrel as investors rejected Trump's claims of a possible resumption of energy product shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Metals, commodities, and energy markets overlooked Trump's misleading comments, and crude oil prices rose and precious metals declined amid worries of major central banks lifting rates.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.4% to 24,728.63, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index advanced 0.5% to 4,440.81.
Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings, and Baidu advanced between 1% and 2%.
Zijin Mining, Zijin Gold International, and Laopu Gold soared between 3% and 8% amid volatile trading in the precious metals market.
Zhejiang Galaxis Technology Group soared more than 78% to HK $29.25, and the company priced its initial public offering at HK $16.66 per share.
The company raised HK$613 million in gross proceeds through the sale of 36.79 million shares.
The intralogistics automation and robotics company said full-year 2024 revenue was 721.4 million yuan and net loss was 178.0 million yuan.
Jiangsu New Vision Automotive Electronics traded at HK $31.20, and the human-vehicle interaction and visual solution provider listed its stock on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The advanced automotive products maker priced its initial public offering at HK $44.20 per share and raised gross proceeds of HK $771.27 million through the sale of 16.2 million shares.
Revenues in 2024 increased to 577.6 million yuan, and net loss shrank to 137.9 million yuan.
China Indexes Rebounded Amid a Lull In Middle East Conflict
Li Chen
24 Mar, 2026
Hong Kong
Stocks in China, Hong Kong, and Asia rebounded amid a lull in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
The Hang Seng Index gained 1.4%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index edged up 0.5%.
The U.S. president claimed that Iran's "top person" is negotiating with the U.S., and both sides are inching closer to an "agreement."
However, Iran's leaders denied the existence of such talks and asserted that Trump is looking for ways to buy time to prepare for a ground invasion.
Brent crude oil jumped 4% to $103.93 a barrel as investors rejected Trump's claims of a possible resumption of energy product shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Metals, commodities, and energy markets overlooked Trump's misleading comments, and crude oil prices rose and precious metals declined amid worries of major central banks lifting rates.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.4% to 24,728.63, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index advanced 0.5% to 4,440.81.
Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings, and Baidu advanced between 1% and 2%.
Zijin Mining, Zijin Gold International, and Laopu Gold soared between 3% and 8% amid volatile trading in the precious metals market.
Zhejiang Galaxis Technology Group soared more than 78% to HK $29.25, and the company priced its initial public offering at HK $16.66 per share.
The company raised HK$613 million in gross proceeds through the sale of 36.79 million shares.
The intralogistics automation and robotics company said full-year 2024 revenue was 721.4 million yuan and net loss was 178.0 million yuan.
Jiangsu New Vision Automotive Electronics traded at HK $31.20, and the human-vehicle interaction and visual solution provider listed its stock on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The advanced automotive products maker priced its initial public offering at HK $44.20 per share and raised gross proceeds of HK $771.27 million through the sale of 16.2 million shares.
Revenues in 2024 increased to 577.6 million yuan, and net loss shrank to 137.9 million yuan.
Middle East Tensions and Inflation Worries Weigh on Global Stocks and Metals
Barry Adams
23 Mar, 2026
New York City
Stocks on Wall Street retreated for the fourth consecutive week amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 1.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.8% at the start of a new week.
Benchmark indexes extended losses for the fifth week, and the S&P 500 index has fallen 7% from its peak on January 12, and the Nasdaq Composite has declined about 9% from its high on January 28.
Brent crude oil prices jumped to as high as $115 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate rose 0.6% to $98.73 a barrel.
as the leaders of the U.S. and Iran exchanged sharp comments over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Over the weekend, the U.S. president threatened to attack Iran's power plants, and Iranian leaders said that the nation is ready to attack key U.S. assets and desalination plants in the Middle East in retaliation.
Despite the U.S. president's claims of war nearing the end, the militaries of the U.S. and Israel are preparing for a ground offensive through the borders with Iraq and Pakistan, according to sources in Karachi and Bagdad.
At least 3,000 U.S. Marines are expected to cross Iran's border with the help of Kurds in the north and Baluchis in the southeast.
Benchmark indexes in China, Hong Kong, India, and Asia plunged between 2.5% and 4% amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Elevated fuel prices continued to fuel inflation worries among major central banks, supporting the hawkish stance on future rate outlooks.
Gold, silver, and copper continued to drift to new lows amid worries that major central banks may be forced to lift rates following a sharp increase in crude oil and natural gas prices.
Spot gold prices dropped as much as 8% on Monday and hovered near $4,100 per ounce. Gold is now down about 25% from its peak of $5,594.90 at the end of January.
Silver declined 5.4% to $63.86 an ounce and extended its loss to over 50% since the high of $117.00 on February 28, when the Israel-U.S. war on Iran began.
Middle East Tensions and Inflation Worries Weigh on Global Stocks and Metals
Barry Adams
23 Mar, 2026
New York City
Stocks on Wall Street retreated for the fourth consecutive week amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 1.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.8% at the start of a new week.
Benchmark indexes extended losses for the fifth week, and the S&P 500 index has fallen 7% from its peak on January 12, and the Nasdaq Composite has declined about 9% from its high on January 28.
Brent crude oil prices jumped to as high as $115 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate rose 0.6% to $98.73 a barrel.
as the leaders of the U.S. and Iran exchanged sharp comments over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Over the weekend, the U.S. president threatened to attack Iran's power plants, and Iranian leaders said that the nation is ready to attack key U.S. assets and desalination plants in the Middle East in retaliation.
Despite the U.S. president's claims of war nearing the end, the militaries of the U.S. and Israel are preparing for a ground offensive through the borders with Iraq and Pakistan, according to sources in Karachi and Bagdad.
At least 3,000 U.S. Marines are expected to cross Iran's border with the help of Kurds in the north and Baluchis in the southeast.
Benchmark indexes in China, Hong Kong, India, and Asia plunged between 2.5% and 4% amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Elevated fuel prices continued to fuel inflation worries among major central banks, supporting the hawkish stance on future rate outlooks.
Gold, silver, and copper continued to drift to new lows amid worries that major central banks may be forced to lift rates following a sharp increase in crude oil and natural gas prices.
Spot gold prices dropped as much as 8% on Monday and hovered near $4,100 per ounce. Gold is now down about 25% from its peak of $5,594.90 at the end of January.
Silver declined 5.4% to $63.86 an ounce and extended its loss to over 50% since the high of $117.00 on February 28, when the Israel-U.S. war on Iran began.