Global shares mostly rebound after Trump hints at a possible end to the
Iran war
[March 24, 2026] By
YURI KAGEYAMA
TOKYO (AP) — Global benchmarks mostly rebounded Tuesday, in a mood of
cautious relief after President Donald Trump said the United States has
talked with Iran about a possible end to their war.
France's CAC 40 gained 0.4% in early trading to 7,759.97, while the
German DAX edged up 0.2% to 22,695.54. Britain's FTSE 100 inched up less
than 0.1% to 9,899.12. U.S. shares were set to be little changed, with
Dow futures up less than 0.1% at 46,536.00. S&P 500 futures were also
virtually unchanged, declining less than 0.1% to 6,634.50.
In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.4% to finish at 52,252.28,
recovering some of the losses it suffered the previous day.
Toyota Motor Corp.'s stock price gained 0.6% after it announced
overnight that it was investing $1 billion in its Kentucky and Indiana
auto plants. That's part of a plan to invest up to $10 billion in the
U.S. over the next five years that the Japanese automaker announced in
November. Japanese manufacturers have been eager to show their
contribution to American jobs and economic growth.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2% to 8,379.40. South Korea's Kospi edged
up 2.7% to 5,553.92. Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 2.8% to 25,063.71,
while the Shanghai Composite added 1.8% to 3,881.28.
Global markets have been on a roller-coaster ride over worries about the
war in Iran, which began in late February, especially nations in Asia,
which are severely affected by any lack of access to the Strait of
Hormuz, crucial for energy shipments from the Middle East.
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Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea
Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center, and the foreign
exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center
left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank
headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP
Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
 In energy trading, benchmark U.S.
crude gained $1.34 to $89.47 a barrel. Brent crude the international
standard, added $1.00 to $100.94 a barrel, reversing course after
easing overnight on Wall Street. That came after Trump said the U.S.
and Iran held productive talks “regarding a complete and total
resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East” over the last two
days.
Iran denied such talks took place and Iranian parliament speaker
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said that “fakenews is used to manipulate
the financial and oil markets” in a post on X.
“Still, while there’s clearly a long way to go until some sort of
ceasefire is agreed, and peace restored, we do at least seem to have
taken the first step towards those ends.” said Michael Brown, senior
research strategist at Pepperstone.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 158.55 Japanese yen
from 158.35 yen. The euro cost $1.15941, down from $1.1610.
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