Hopes for Middle East Peace Nudge US Equity Futures Slightly Higher Pre-Bell

Japanese Shares Climb on Ceasefire Hopes, Strong Wall Street Corporate Earnings

Optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran ceasefire and solid corporate earnings on Wall Street lifted Japanese stocks at Thursday's opening.The Nikkei 225 climbed by 345.6 points or 0.6% to open at 58,479.83.The U.S. and Iran are discussing a two-week truce extension to allow further peace negotiations, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, easing fears of renewed fighting even as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz.Separately, IMF Mission Chief for Japan Rahul Anand told Reuters that the Bank of Japan can look past Middle East war‑related inflation, since broader second‑round price effects are likely limited.Anand's comments come as conflict‑driven oil price surges add to inflationary pressures, keeping alive market expectations for a near‑term BOJ interest rate hike.

S&P 500 Index Touches All-Time High Amid Reports of Iran Truce Extension

US Equity Indexes Mixed Amid Reports Iran Ceasefire May be Extended for Peace Talks

US equity indexes traded mixed ahead of Wednesday's close amid speculation on an extension of the two-week Iran ceasefire, setting the stage for a lasting peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.5% to 23,991.7 and the S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,023.3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, declined 0.2% to 48,453.9.The US and Iran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to negotiate a peace deal, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Mediators are seeking technical talks to overcome the most contentious issues -- the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program -- preventing an agreement that would extend beyond next week, when an initial truce will expire, the person told Bloomberg.Trump said the war with Iran was close to over, telling the world to brace for an "amazing two days," as the army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran in a bid to prevent a renewed conflict, Reuters reported. Pakistan's military confirmed Field Marshal Asim Munir had arrived in Tehran, the news report said. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Munir, who had mediated the last round of talks, was heading to Iran "to narrow gaps" between the two sides.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 0.5% to $90.84, and Brent crude futures slipped less than 0.1% lower to $94.75. Both the WTI and Brent futures were up 1% earlier in the session.Technology, consumer discretionary, communication services, and financials led gainers in the final leg of trading. Industrials and materials were among the decliners.In company news, Morgan Stanley (MS) posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record.