Tech Shares May Fuel Japan Stock Market

(RTTNews) - The Japanese stock market bounced higher again on Tuesday, one day after ending the two-day winning streak in which it had rallied more than 2,900 points or 4.7 percent. The Nikkei 225 now sits just beneath the 63,960-point plateau and it's got a solid lead again for Wednesday's trade.

The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on falling crude oil prices and optimism for an end to hostilities in the Middle East. The European and U.S. markets were up and the Asian bourses are expected to open in similar fashion.

The Nikkei finished modestly higher on Tuesday as gains from the financial shares, property stocks and textile companies were capped by weakness from the technology and automobile sectors. For the day, the index gained 202.63 points or 0.32 percent to finish at 63,957.53 after trading between 62,864.43 and 64,240.50.

The lead from Wall Street is strong as the major averages opened solidly higher and continued to accelerate throughout the day, ending at fresh record closing highs.

The Dow rallied 907.47 points or 1.71 percent to finish at 54,085.88, while the NASDAQ soared 671.10 points or 2.59 percent to end at 26,584.99 and the S&P 500 jumped 136.02 points or 1.79 percent to close at 7,736.52.

The continued strength on Wall Street comes amid an extended nosedive by the price of crude oil, with U.S. crude oil futures plummeting after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed the U.S. and Iran could reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the next couple days.

Later, Qatar confirmed that mediatory efforts to secure U.S.-Iran deal are progressing well. West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery was down $4.66 or 5.80 percent at $75.68 per barrel.

Tech stocks have led the rally amid a positive reaction to earnings news from enterprise software giant Palantir (PLTR); shares of the company surged more than 25 percent it reported better than expected second quarter results and raised its full-year guidance.

In economic news, the Commerce Department said the U.S. trade deficit narrowed roughly in line with estimates in June. The trade deficit shrank to $73.3 billion in June from $77.6 billion in May. Economists had expected the trade deficit to decrease to $73.0 billion.