FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Head for Strong Weekly Advance

The Nikkei 225 Index rose 1.8% to above 56,800 on Friday and was on track for a weekly gain of about 7%, as a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran bolstered risk appetite. Markets are now focused on diplomatic talks in Islamabad this weekend, where Vice President JD Vance will lead a US delegation in discussions with Iranian officials. Still, sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and persistent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, both of which could complicate negotiations.

Globally, technology and artificial intelligence stocks advanced after CoreWeave secured a significantly larger $21 billion deal to supply computing capacity to Meta Platforms. In Japan, tech shares led the gains, with Kioxia Holdings and Fujikura each climbing 8.1%, while Advantest added 2.6%. Fast Retailing also jumped 9.4% after raising its full-year operating profit forecast, supported by strong demand from the US and Europe, while Japan continued to provide a stable base in the domestic market.