Japan 225 Rebounds 0.6% on Wall St Highs; Iran Fears, Oil Volatility Cap Upside

Japan 225 climbed 0.6% on May 1 in thin trade, tracking Wall Street record highs amid Apple's earnings beat, though gains were limited by renewed U.S.-Iran tensions closing the Strait of Hormuz and Brent crude spiking above $126/bbl before retreating. The index surged to a record intraday 60,652.98 on April 27 on AI enthusiasm, SK Hynix rallies, and China's 5% Q1 GDP, slipped 0.7% to 60,107.50 on April 28 after BOJ rate hold at 0.75%, then dropped 1.4% on April 30 as oil topped $120/bbl on disruptions and Fed inflation warnings. Volatility has persisted through US-Iran ceasefire hopes and doubts, driving over 15% monthly gains despite swings.