Asian Stock Markets Open Weaker as Investors Closely Monitor Middle East Updates

Asian-Pacific stock markets opened weaker in trading on Wednesday (22/4/2026), due to growing concerns that the Middle East conflict could drag on, after US President Donald Trump extended the US ceasefire with Iran.

“Based on the fact that the Iranian Government is very divided, which is not surprising, and at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to delay our attack on the country of Iran until the leaders and their representatives can present a unified proposal,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

He added that the ceasefire would be extended until Tehran submits a proposal or discussions conclude, and that the US military would continue the blockade of Iranian ports.

However, the duration remains uncertain. Negotiators from Tehran said they would not attend talks with the US, calling it a “waste of time,” according to Iranian state media on Wednesday.

This uncertainty has also delayed Vice President JD Vance’s trip to join peace negotiations, according to reports from Axios and The New York Times, citing US officials familiar with the situation.

The West Texas Intermediate crude oil price rose 0.80% to $90.39 per barrel at 20:01 ET. Brent crude oil rose 0.77% to $99.24 per barrel.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.41%, while the Topix fell 0.67%. Japan’s exports increased for the seventh consecutive month, recording a trade surplus of 667 billion yen ($4.18 billion) in March, compared to an estimated surplus of 1.1 trillion yen, according to Reuters data. Focus will also be on the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting next week.

South Korea’s Kospi index rose slightly by 0.16% after hitting a record high on Tuesday, while the Kosdaq index for small-cap companies fell 0.42%. Producer prices in March grew at the fastest pace in more than three years, supported by higher oil prices amid the Middle East conflict, according to central bank data.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.59%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures were at 26,221, compared to the previous close of 26,487.48.

Yesterday, the S&P 500 closed down 0.63% at 7,064.01, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.59% at 24,259.96. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 293.18 points, or 0.59%, to end at 49,149.38.