Japan's Nikkei 225 crossed the 65,000 level for the first time in its history, surging roughly 3% in a single session. The move was driven in part by easing geopolitical tension in the Middle East, with progress toward an Iran peace deal reducing the risk premium that had been weighing on global equities. The milestone extends a multi-year rally that has made Japanese stocks one of the strongest-performing major markets in the world.
A 3% single-day surge past a historic milestone in Japan signals genuine risk appetite returning to global equity markets, not just a local story. Investors with exposure to international ETFs, Japanese equities, or broadly diversified funds will feel this tailwind directly. Easing Middle East tensions also puts downward pressure on oil prices, which benefits energy-importing economies and squeezes inflation — a net positive for stock valuations globally.
Watch for any formal announcements or breakdowns in Iran peace negotiations — these could reverse the geopolitical tailwind quickly. Also monitor the Bank of Japan's next policy meeting for signals on interest rate changes, which directly affect the yen and Japanese corporate profits for exporters.
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