Asian markets rebound as Mideast tensions ease

Asian markets rebounded in early trading Thursday following losses the day before after Iran launched a missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq.

Tensions decreased significantly Wednesday amid signs of de-escalation, as President Donald Trump said Iran “appears to be standing down” and announced fresh sanctions rather than immediate military action.

U.S. stocks recovered after shaky pre-market trading, with the Nasdaq closing at a new record and the S&P 500 hitting an intraday record.

Japan’s Nikkei












NIK, +2.04%










  surged 2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index












HSI, +1.06%










  rose 1%. The Shanghai Composite












SHCOMP, +0.47%










  advanced 0.5% and the Shenzhen Composite












399106, +1.03%










  ticked up 1%. South Korea’s Kospi












180721, +1.10%










  rose 1% and benchmark indexes in Taiwan












Y9999, +1.17%










 , Singapore












STI, +0.07%










  and Indonesia












JAKIDX, +0.31%










  gained. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200












XJO, +0.58%










  advanced 0.6%.

Among individual stocks, Screen Holdings












7735, +6.10%










  surged in Tokyo trading, while Yahoo Japan parent Z Holdings












4689, +4.64%










 , SoftBank












9984, +4.63%










  and Honda












7267, +1.32%










  also rose. In Hong Kong, Apple component makers Sunny Optical












2382, +4.24%










  and AAC












2018, +2.52%










  gained, while PetroChina












857, -1.45%










  fell as oil prices receded. Samsung












005930, +2.46%










  jumped in South Korea, while in Australia, Beach Energy












BPT, -2.04%










  fell and Rio Tinto












RIO, +1.13%










  advanced.