Nikkei 225 (N225) Hits Record High at 59,691 Amid Ceasefire Extension

Japan's Nikkei 225 (N225) reached a record high of 59,691 on March 11, 2020, driven by an increase in exports and a trade surplus of 667 billion yen ($4.18 billion). This follows seven consecutive months of rising exports, although the surplus was lower than the anticipated 1.1 trillion yen. In contrast, other Asia-Pacific markets, including South Korea's Kospi, faced declines with a 1.02% drop. The situation in the Middle East, specifically regarding Iran, added volatility to oil prices, with West Texas Intermediate futures down 0.28% to $89.42 per barrel.