Asian stock markets close higher after provisional agreement between US and Iran
Asian stock markets closed sharply higher this Monday (15), with a record in Japan, after the United States and Iran announced a provisional agreement that foresees the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, bringing down oil prices and easing inflationary fears.
The Japanese Nikkei index advanced 4.99% in Tokyo, to an unprecedented level of 69,317.50 points, while the South Korean Kospi jumped 5.20% in Seoul, to 8,545.98 points. Elsewhere in Asia, the Hang Seng gained a moderate 0.50% in Hong Kong at 24,842.67 points and the Taiex rose 2.78% in Taiwan at 45,396.99 points.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite rose 1.61%, to 4,096.47 points, and the less comprehensive Shenzhen Composite advanced 3.42%, to 2,789.36 points.
The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement yesterday, according to American President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, one of the mediators.
The truce paves the way for new negotiations that could, ultimately, definitively end the war that has lasted three and a half months, killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.
Iran also confirmed the understanding, but indicated that implementation will only begin after the formal signing, which, according to Pakistan, should take place on Friday in Switzerland.
On the same day, the Strait of Hormuz is scheduled to reopen - a route through which, under normal conditions, around 20% of the world's oil passes. Negociações mais amplas - incluindo temas como o programa nuclear iraniano - devem prosseguir pelos próximos 60 dias.
No fim da madrugada, o petróleo Brent - referência internacional - tombava mais de 5%, para cerca de US$ 83 por barril.
The announcement of the agreement came in a week marked by interest rate decisions from the Fed (Federal Reserve), the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England.
Na Oceania, a bolsa da Austrália subiu 1,25%, com o índice S&P/ASX 200 encerrando o pregão em Sydney a 8.914,00 pontos.
Disparada do petróleo: Veja medidas que países estão adotando contra preços
Source: CNN