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In
Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 3.3% to finish at
68,956.72. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost nearly 2.0% to 8,614.40.
South Korea's Kospi edged up 2.0% to 6,971.35.
Hong Kong and Shanghai markets were closed for a national
holiday.
In Tokyo trading, issues expected to get a boost from the solid
demand in computer chips and AI-related growth finished higher,
including Advantest Corp., Tokyo Electron and SoftBank Group
Corp.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude added 2.06% to $92.28 a
barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 2.03% to
$100.02 a barrel.
Oil prices have been swinging wildly in recent months amid
uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the flow of
crude to be fully restored. Iranian officials indicated
Wednesday they have received an official U.S. response to
Tehran’s latest proposal to end the seven-month war. The
officials did not say what the latest response contained and
whether it was a rejection.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly rejected Iran's proposal
just days earlier to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week
if the U.S. meets certain conditions.
The trend for a weakening yen didn't change despite a report
from the Bank of Japan that gave a positive read on the economy.
Its quarterly “tankan” survey Thursday, widely viewed as a key
indicator on Japan ’s economic vitality, showed large
manufacturers’ sentiment is up slightly.
The key indicator of business sentiment has now been improving
for the sixth quarter straight.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 158.28 Japanese yen
from 157.33 yen. The euro cost $1.1296, down from $1.1334.
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