US-Iran Negotiation Expectations See-Saw Back and Forth, Asian Stock Markets Decline, Korean Stock Down Over 3%, Oil Prices Rise Slightly

Thursday, expectations for US-Iran ceasefire negotiations fluctuated, and market movements remained volatile. Asian stock markets opened lower and continued to decline, while international crude oil prices remained stable and slightly increased.

Iran explicitly stated no intention to negotiate directly with the US. According to CCTV News, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian said in an interview with national television on the 25th local time that in recent days, the US has conveyed proposals to Iran through several friendly countries to end the war. Iran’s high-level officials are studying these proposals, but “exchanging information” through these mediators does not mean negotiations with the US.

Previously, media sources citing insiders reported that Trump privately told his advisors he believed the conflict had entered its final stage and urged them to stick to the four to six-week timetable he publicly proposed. Some expect the war to end before mid-May.

Geopolitical negotiations have reached a deadlock. Analysts predict that the US will escalate military actions before major combat operations succeed (around mid-April) to pressure Iran to make concessions, entering the third phase of “fighting while negotiating.”

Looking at market trends, Asian stocks opened lower and continued to decline.

The Nikkei 225 index opened up 0.2%, but is currently down 0.64%. The Topix index fell 0.3%. Japan’s 2-year government bond yield rose to 1.315%, the first time since 1996.

The Seoul Composite Index in South Korea fell by 3% intraday, and the Australian S&P/ASX 200 index declined.

Overnight, the three major US stock indices all closed higher: Dow Jones up 0.66%, S&P 500 up 0.54%, Nasdaq Composite up 0.77%.

During Asian trading hours, oil prices remained stable. WTI crude oil rose 1.13% intraday to $91.34 per barrel.

Updates ongoing

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