26.03.202600:34:16UTC+00Japanese Shares Gain for Third Session

The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 0.8% to above 54,100 on Thursday, while the broader Topix Index added 0.4% to 3,665, marking a third straight session of gains for Japanese equities. The advance came amid cautious optimism over diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.

US officials reiterated that peace talks are ongoing, but Iran signaled it has no intention of engaging in direct negotiations with Washington. Tehran said it would reject a US-backed ceasefire proposal and instead put forward its own five-point plan, which includes gaining control over the Strait of Hormuz.

In the meantime, Japan received two oil tankers from the Middle East this week that circumvented the strategic waterway, helping to ease some concerns over supply disruptions.

On the corporate front, notable gainers included Fujikura (up 4.4%), Furukawa Electric (5.3%), SoftBank Group (4.8%), Lasertec (2.5%), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (2.2%).