TOKYO, April 3  (V7N) – Tokyo stocks rebounded Friday following the previous day’s sharp losses, tracking tech-led gains on Wall Street despite lingering uncertainty over the Middle East crisis.  

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.9 percent by the break, recovering from a more than two percent drop Thursday after US President Donald Trump’s address to the nation heightened fears of an extended war with Iran.  

The advance came on a muted day across Asia, with most markets closed for the Easter holiday. Seoul also rallied, while Shanghai slipped.  

Oil markets were shut, a day after West Texas Intermediate surged more than 11 percent to $111.54 and Brent jumped 7.8 percent to $109.03.  

“While market movements continue to be heavily influenced by the flow of news regarding the situation in the Middle East, the rise in US tech stocks is providing buyers with a sense of relief,” Daiwa Securities said.  

Tokai Tokyo Securities added: “Tokyo shares are expected to trend higher, but volatility is also expected.”  

Online brokerage Monex noted investors may adopt a wait-and-see stance in the afternoon, with attention focused on US jobs figures due later Friday.  

Caution remained after Trump’s speech offered no clear timeline for ending the conflict with Iran. He threatened to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages” but gave no plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil and gas normally passes but has been blocked by Tehran since the war began.  

“While the market had been hoping for a near end to the war, these remarks, leaving open the possibility of further fighting, sparked disappointment,” said Takuma Ikemoto of the Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Lab.  

On currency markets, the euro rose to $1.1536, the pound edged up to $1.3227, the dollar gained to 159.66 yen, and the euro eased to 87.20 pence.  

END/WD/RH