Asian stock markets experienced a positive shift on Thursday, with the MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rising 0.3%, indicating a third day of gains. Japan's Nikkei index saw a 1.5% increase, buoyed by optimism surrounding potential peace negotiations between the US and Iran. This optimism was further supported by strong quarterly earnings from major US banks, including Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, which helped lift the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite to record highs. Approximately 84% of companies that have reported earnings so far this quarter have surpassed analysts' expectations, reinforcing a constructive outlook for emerging market stocks, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. They anticipate that demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly influence earnings, particularly for companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), which is expected to report a 50% increase in net profit due to rising demand for advanced chips. Meanwhile, oil prices opened lower, with Brent crude trading at $94.55 per barrel, as reports emerged that Iran might consider allowing ships to navigate freely through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially easing tensions in the region.