The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 3.5% to above 52,800, while the broader Topix Index climbed 3.2% to 3,600 on Wednesday, snapping a four-session losing streak amid hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict. President Trump said the US could end military attacks on Iran within two to three weeks and that Tehran would not need to reach a deal as a prerequisite for the conflict winding down. However, uncertainty remained as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected a ceasefire and instead demanded a full end to the war with guarantees and compensation. Meanwhile, latest data showed Japan’s large manufacturers’ sentiment improved for a fourth straight quarter, with the Tankan index rising to 17 in March from a revised 16, beating expectations and reinforcing the Bank of Japan’s stance of continuing gradual rate hikes. Nearly all sectors advanced, led by chip and AI-related shares. Advantest and SoftBank Group jumped 7% and 6% respectively, while Tokyo Electron gained 3.6%.