Wednesday 22nd April 2026: Nikkei Hits Record High as Ceasefire Extension Fails to Lift Broader Asia-Pacific Markets

Global Markets:

•  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.26%, Shanghai Composite up 0.24% Hang Seng down 1.35% ASX down 1.03%
• Commodities : Gold at $4,774.70(1.16%) Silver at $77.957 (1.92%), Brent Oil at $98.44 (-0.06%), WTI Oil at $89.45 (-0.25%)
• Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.291, UK 10-year yield at 4.8870, Germany 10-year yield at 3.0108

News & Data:

• (CAD) Core Retail Sales m/m 1.9%  to 1.4%  expected

Markets Update:

Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed to a record high on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran, though most Asia-Pacific markets traded lower amid uncertainty over the prolonged Middle East conflict. 

Trump said the ceasefire extension followed a request from Pakistan’s leadership and would remain in place until Iran presented a unified proposal or negotiations concluded. He added that U.S. forces would continue maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports. However, Iran signaled reluctance to participate in talks, with officials calling the negotiations a “waste of time,” according to state media.

The uncertainty also delayed Vice President JD Vance’s planned participation in peace discussions, U.S. officials told Axios and The New York Times.

Oil prices retreated slightly after earlier gains, with West Texas Intermediate falling 0.49% to $89.23 per barrel and Brent crude easing 0.31% to $98.17. 

Japan’s Nikkei 225 reached 59,691 after export data showed a seventh consecutive monthly rise, though the Topix slipped 0.63%. South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.14%, while the Kosdaq dropped 0.81%. China’s CSI 300 rose 0.30%, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.32%.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.94%, and India’s Nifty 50 slipped 0.48%, even as U.S. stock futures edged higher. 

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The post Wednesday 22nd April 2026: Nikkei Hits Record High as Ceasefire Extension Fails to Lift Broader Asia-Pacific Markets first appeared on IC Your Trading Edge | Official Blog.