Japan’s Nikkei share average rose on Tuesday as optimism grew from reports that Tehran is considering attending peace talks with Washington in Pakistan, lifting risk appetite and prompting investors to buy domestic heavyweight technology stocks.

The Nikkei was up 1.07% at 59,453.44, as of 0147 GMT, while the broader Topix inched ‌0.14% higher ⁠to 3,782,43.

An uneasy ⁠ceasefire between the United States and Iran frayed after the U.S. announced the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship, drawing vows of retaliation from Tehran. Iran said over the weekend it would skip a second round of negotiations, though a senior official later told Reuters the country may yet send delegates to talks expected in Islamabad.

In Japan, chip-related shares climbed, ⁠with Tokyo ‌Electron and Advantest up 4.3% and 1.79%, respectively.

Kioxia Holdings jumped 5.3% and technology investor SoftBank Group gained 4.23%.

“The market might ⁠be too optimistic about the aftermath of the war. There is a concern about the impact of the disruption of the supply chain,” said Takamasa Ikeda, senior portfolio manager at GCI Asset Management.
“There may be a big correction of the stock market in the summer if the impact of the supply shortage surfaces.” Ikeda noted that tightened supply of helium, a key component in cable productions, ‌could weigh on Japan’s high-performing fibre optic cable makers, including Fujikura and Furukawa Electric.

Fujikura rose 5% on Tuesday, while Furukawa gained 3.5%.

In other stock movements, ⁠Nojima surged 10.2% following reports that the electronics retailer plans to acquire Hitachi’s consumer appliances unit, Hitachi Global Life Solutions, for more than 100 billion yen ($630.32 million).

Hitachi shares edged 0.3% higher.

Banking shares declined, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group down 0.26% and 1%, respectively.

Toyota Motor lost 2% in early trade.

Of the more than 1,600 stocks traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange‘s prime market, 39% rose, 56% declined and 4% remained unchanged.

Oil prices slipped on Tuesday, giving up part of the previous session’s sharp gains, as hopes of upcoming peace talks between the U.S. and Iran raised expectations of improved supply from the Middle East.

Despite lingering tensions, market participants are now focusing on the possibility that talks this week could extend the current ceasefire or even lead to a broader agreement. However, risks of renewed conflict and supply disruptions remain.

Crude oil price on April 21

Brent crude futures fell 95 cents, or 1%, to $94.53 at 0003 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for May dropped $1.54, or 1.72%, to $88.07. The May contract expires on Tuesday, while the more actively traded June contract declined $1.09, or 1.3%, to $86.37. A senior Iranian official indicated that Tehran is considering joining peace talks in Pakistan, following diplomatic efforts by Islamabad to ease the U.S. blockade, a news report by Reuters stated.

On Saturday, Iran tightened its grip over the strait in response to the U.S. blockade, reportedly firing at several vessels and declaring the route closed. The blockade has emerged as a key obstacle to Tehran’s return to peace negotiations, with the current two-week ceasefire due to end later this week.

Where are prices headed?

Market movements remain highly reactive to developments, with oil prices swinging on shifting signals from both sides rather than any clear improvement in supply conditions. The intermittent movement of vessels through the strait highlights the deep uncertainty surrounding the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. Even if tensions ease, a full recovery in oil flows is expected to take several months, experts warn.Macquarie noted that even if tensions ease, oil prices are likely to stay supported in the $85 to $90 range, with a gradual climb towards $110 as flows through the strait normalize. It also warned that if disruptions persist through April, Brent could spike to as much as $150 per barrel.

Analysts generally believe the market may be entering a phase of structurally higher prices. With the ceasefire seen as temporary, a return to pre-conflict levels of $70 to $75 could take time. In the near term, prices are expected to move within a band of $80 to $85 on the downside and $95 to $100 on the upside.

Nuvama Institutional Equities added that an extended closure of the strait, which handles roughly 20 million barrels per day, could drive crude prices into the $110 to $150 range.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Apple will see a shake-up in its management positions as Tim Cook is now stepping down as the CEO of the company and will serve as the executive chairman of the board of directors.

With this, Apple also announced that it has already named its next chief executive officer, with John Ternus, the company’s current senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, set to replace Cook.

Tim Cook to Become Apple’s Executive Chairman

In a new Apple Newsroom post, the Cupertino tech giant has confirmed that Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple’s CEO, which will take effect on September 1, 2026. However, Cook will not stray away from Apple just yet as it was revealed that he will be tasked to serve as Apple’s executive chairman for the company’s board of directors.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” said Cook.

It was noted by Apple that as the executive chairman, Cook will have a limited role here. The company revealed that his responsibilities under this role will only revolve around “certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.”

This means that Cook’s main responsibility will be to work with government officials as the executive chairman.

9to5Mac noted that Cook previously faced scrutiny with his affiliations with the Trump administration, especially when he was invited to the White House and appeared in the “Melania” documentary.

Cook is also known for his close ties to China, having already established rapport with the country during his long tenure as CEO.

John Ternus Is the Next Apple CEO

With this announcement, Apple has also named the next chief executive officer of the company to replace Cook, and it is none other than Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus.

According to Apple, Ternus will bring in his 25 years of experience under the company to his new CEO role. The engineer-slash-executive has worked under Steve Jobs and was mentored by Tim Cook. Now, he gets the chance to lead a new age for Apple.

Come September 1, Tim Cook will have served 15 years as Apple’s CEO since being appointed as its chief after co-founder Steve Jobs stepped down.

Originally published on Tech Times

Asian stocks edged higher as signs Iran may join talks with the US fostered cautious optimism about progress in the Middle East ahead of a looming ceasefire deadline. Oil dropped.

Gauges in Japan, South Korea and Australia advanced at the open with the broader MSCI Asia Pacific Index rising 0.3%. S&P 500 contracts also edged higher in early trading after the index slipped 0.2% on Monday from a record, weighed down by declines in several technology heavyweights. Apple Inc. shares slipped in late US trading after the company named John Ternus as its next chief executive officer.

Global crude benchmark Brent fell 0.7% to $94.80 a barrel early Tuesday, after gaining 5.6% in the prior session. The dollar and Treasuries were steady.

President Donald Trump said he is unlikely to extend the truce with Iran if no agreement is reached before its expiry Wednesday evening, Washington time. Iran is also preparing to send a delegation to the next round of talks, according to people familiar with the plans who declined to be identified.

Attention is shifting to whether the US and Iran can resume negotiations in Pakistan to calm strains and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after an initial round in Islamabad ended without a deal. The dollar has weakened over the past three weeks and several equity gauges have recouped war-related losses as markets price in easing tensions, cheaper oil and stronger economic growth.

“Markets are once again grappling with a rapidly shifting narrative in the Middle East, as the past 48 hours have delivered both optimism and renewed concern,” said Daniela Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital.com, adding that the market feels “stuck at a crossroads” as a result of the jostling.
Chip stocks in Asia will be in focus after the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index advanced, notching a 14th straight session in the green — a winning streak that it has exceeded just once, in 2014. Transits through Hormuz have reduced to a trickle as Iran tightens control in retaliation for strikes. On Friday, that paralysis appeared to end, with Tehran saying it would reopen the waterway, before reversing course during the weekend as the US maintained a naval blockade and attacked an Iranian ship.

Beyond the strait, arguably the most fraught issue is Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has demanded Iran forswear any ambitions for a nuclear weapon and hand over stockpiles of enriched uranium. Tehran has balked at giving up its uranium and has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.