Global Markets Rally After Trump Negotiates US-Iran Ceasefire

Global equity markets rallied on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after Donald Trump negotiated a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The agreement, intended to ease Middle East tensions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to normal shipping, triggered a roughly 15 percent drop in global oil prices, with Brent crude falling toward $90 a barrel.

Investor relief fueled broad gains across Asia, Europe, and Australia. Japan's Nikkei rose over 5%, South Korea's KOSPI climbed nearly 6%, and China's CSI 1000 gained over 3.5%. In Europe, the pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 rose 3.6%, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 climbed 4.6% and 4%, respectively. The Athens Stock Exchange General Index surged 6%, led by gains in Eurobank and Alpha Bank.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 reached a four-week high, increasing by 2.9 percent to 8,983 points. The market shift created distinct winners and losers: airline stocks like Qantas and Virgin Australia surged, while energy giants Woodside Energy, Santos, and Ampol saw sharp declines. Other sectors, including mining, technology, and banking, also saw significant gains, with companies such as Zip and Commonwealth Bank recording strong performance.