Asian Stock Markets Strengthen in Unison Despite Ongoing US-Iran Tensions

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Tuesday (21/4/2026) trading amid hopes for a resolution to the Middle East conflict, although tensions between Iran and the US continue to heat up.

“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, is trying to change the negotiating table … to justify renewed war provocations,” said Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in a post on X.

“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the last two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” added Ghalibaf, who is also Iran’s chief negotiator.

This comes after US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that “many bombs will start exploding” if no agreement is reached before the fragile ceasefire with Tehran ends on Tuesday night, threatening Iran with extraordinary military force.

The threats emerged even as the US delegation prepares to return to Pakistan for a possible second round of peace talks.

Investors remain optimistic about the overall stock market outlook. Ohsung Kwon, head of equity strategy at Wells Fargo, said during CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime” on Monday afternoon, “I think the economy will be fine for the next three months.”

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for May delivery fell 1.72% to $88.07 per barrel at 20:00 ET. Brent crude oil futures for June delivery declined 1.02% to $94.51 per barrel.

South Korea’s Kospi index rose 1.58%, while the Kosdaq index for small-cap companies added 0.90%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.52%, while the Topix was slightly higher. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.20%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index futures were at 26,494, higher than the index’s previous close of 26,361.07.

Overnight on Wall Street, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 70 points, or 0.2%.

During Monday’s regular session, the S&P 500 fell 0.24% and closed at 7,109.14, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.26% and ended at 24,404.39, ending a 13-day winning streak - the longest positive trend since 1992. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 4.87 points, or 0.01%, and closed at 49,442.56.