Asia stock markets rise on Wednesday followed an overnight rally on Wall Street, fueled by optimism that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran will hold. On the geopolitical front, US President Donald Trump accused both Israel and Iran of violating a newly declared ceasefire, expressing particular frustration with Israel for launching major strikes on Iran. Earlier that day, Iran fired a barrage of missiles, resulting in four fatalities. Gold prices edged higher to around $3,330 per ounce on Wednesday, slightly recovering from a two-week low. Japan ( NKY:IND ) rose 0.29% to above 38,800 on Wednesday, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.2% to 2,776. The Japanese yen held steady around 144.8 per dollar on Wednesday, near a one-week-high, as markets digested the Bank of Japan’s latest Summary of Opinions. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) reiterated that it will only consider future rate hikes if its economic and price forecasts are met, according to the summary from its June Monetary Policy Meeting . Japan’s leading economic index — which reflects the outlook for the coming months based on indicators such as job offers and consumer sentiment — was revised up to 104.2 in April 2025 from a preliminary estimate of 103.4. Japan’s index of coincident economic indicators—which reflects trends in factory output, employment, and retail sales—rose to 116.0 in April 2025. On the trade front, Japanese negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is reportedly preparing for his seventh trip to the US as early as June 26 to press for the removal of US tariffs. China ( SHCOMP ) rose 0.62% to around 3,422 on Wednesday, while the Shenzhen Component added 0.2% to 10,240, marking a third straight session of gains, and the offshore yuan weakened toward 7.17 per dollar on Wednesday, breaking a four-session winning streak. People's Bank of China injected CNY 300 billion into banks on June 25 via a one-year lending facility to maintain liquidity. Furthermore, Beijing unveiled fresh guidelines aimed at boosting domestic consumption through financial tools, with the goal of supporting employment, increasing household incomes, and stimulating broader economic growth. Investors are now turning their attention to the upcoming July Politburo meeting for potential indications of further economic stimulus. Hong Kong ( HSI ) rose 0.91% to 24,385 in early trade on Wednesday, marking gains for the fourth session and maintaining their highest level in two weeks. India ( SENSEX ) rose 0.66% to 82,611 in early deals on Wednesday, rising for the second straight session, mainly driven by gains in the tech and auto sectors. Australia ( AS51 ) rose 0.11% at around 8,555 on Wednesday, pausing after a strong 1% rally in the previous session. The Australian dollar strengthened to around $0.650 on Wednesday, marking its third consecutive session of gains despite softer-than-expected inflation figures. Australia’s consumer prices rose by 2.1% year-on-year in May, coming in below market forecasts of a 2.3% increase and easing from a 2.4% growth in April. Core inflation also slowed to 2.4% from 2.8%, the lowest since November 2021. In the U.S., on Tuesday, all three major indexes ended higher buoyed by cooling geopolitical tensions and a continued slide in oil prices. U.S. stock futures were flat on Wednesday following a strong session for equities, as easing geopolitical tensions and falling oil prices lifted investor sentiment: Dow +0.08% ; S&P 500 +0.06% ; Nasdaq +0.08% . Currencies: ( JPY:USD ), ( CNY:USD ), ( AUD:USD ), ( INR:USD ), ( HKD:USD ), ( NZD:USD ). More on Asia: BoJ minutes reveal ongoing caution on economy amid inflation & market risks PBoC injects CNY 300 Billion into banking system via MLF to boost liquidity Australia's monthly CPI dips to 7-month low of 2.1% in May Japan's manufacturing rebounds in June, services maintain growth amid new orders Australia's services sector expands to 3-month high; manufacturing holds steady at 51
