Japan's Nikkei 225 Hits New Record as Asian Markets Open Higher
Asia-Pacific stock markets opened higher in trading on Wednesday (3/6/2026), with Japan’s main index hitting a new record high. According to CNBC, investors appear to be overlooking the uncertainties surrounding negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East.
Market sentiment remains overshadowed by rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran has placed mines in large parts of the Strait of Hormuz and has conducted attacks on commercial vessels passing through the shipping lane. Rubio made these remarks during his testimony before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday local time, marking his first appearance in Congress since the outbreak of the Iran war on 28 February.
A White House official told CNBC that the Pentagon has destroyed a significant number of sea mines and over 40 Iranian mine-laying vessels. This action was taken to maintain the security of international shipping lanes, which serve as a vital artery for global energy trade. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway of immense importance to global energy markets; prior to the conflict, approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply passed through the strait, meaning any disruption has the potential to impact international energy prices.
In the stock markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index surged 0.91% to hit a new record high. The Topix index also gained 0.93%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose by 0.32%. In contrast to the Japanese and Australian markets, Hang Seng futures in Hong Kong showed weakness, with Hang Seng futures last trading at 25,853, lower than the previous Hang Seng close of 26,038.32. Meanwhile, the South Korean stock market was closed for a national holiday, leaving regional trading activity primarily focused on Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong.
In the commodities market, crude oil prices continued to rise amid fears of supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for June delivery rose 1.16% to US$94.92 per barrel, while Brent for July delivery traded around US$96 per barrel.
On Wall Street, S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones futures moved relatively flat ahead of the market opening. Investors are still processing the new records set by US stock indices in the previous session. During Tuesday’s trading, the S&P 500 rose 0.13% and closed above the 7,600 level for the first time in history. The Dow Jones gained 228.91 points or 0.45%, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded a slight increase of 0.03%.