Japanese stocks surge on Iran deal report, Nikkei tops 69,000 for first time

2026-06-15

In Tokyo trading on the 15th, the Nikkei average at one point rose more than 3,500 yen from the previous Friday's close, climbing above 69,000 yen for the first time. It also surpassed the previous record closing high of 68,402 yen set on the 3rd. Buying spread as U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media in the early hours of the 15th Japan time that he had agreed to end the fighting with Iran, easing geopolitical risks.

Buying spreads across a wide range of stocks

Trump also referred to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil futures tumbled, and views that this would be a tailwind for the Japanese economy, which depends heavily on resource imports, also helped support buying of Japanese stocks. Semiconductor-related shares such as SoftBank Group, Kioxia Holdings and Murata Manufacturing rose. Previously lagging auto stocks such as Toyota Motor, as well as Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings, also attracted buying. The Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) also at one point traded above its record high.

Market optimism and concerns

Daiki Takei, strategist at Resona Holdings, said, 'What is different this time is that domestic-demand stocks and non-high-tech shares are also rising sharply.' Sectors that would benefit if material prices stabilize were being bought, and market participants are beginning to accept as a reality the prospect of the United States and Iran reaching an agreement, he said.

That said, the formal signing of the agreement is scheduled for the 19th, and caution remains over unstable developments until then. Masahiro Yamaguchi, head of investment research at SMBC Trust Bank, said, 'It is still not signed, and it is hard to deny that the stock market is leaning quite far toward optimism.' U.S. SpaceX, which went public on the 12th, ended trading at 160 dollars, up 19% from its offering price, further boosting market optimism.

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