Japan's Nikkei 225 index surged to an all-time high on Thursday, crossing the 61,000 mark for the first time as markets reopened after the holiday break.
The benchmark jumped 3.38% to 61,523.36, driven by a global tech rally and optimism over a potential ceasefire in the Middle East. The broader Topix index rose 2.02% to 3,803.95.
Wall Street's record highs overnight, fueled by strong earnings from Advanced Micro Devices, boosted sentiment in the red-hot artificial intelligence sector. Adding to the momentum, Iran confirmed it is reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the ongoing conflict, while President Donald Trump noted productive talks with Tehran.
Meanwhile, Japan's market also responded to a stronger yen, following suspected intervention by Tokyo authorities to support the currency.