In a positive turn for Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 index in Japan soared by over 2% on Wednesday, reaching yet another record high. This rise contributed to a generally upward trend across the region’s stock markets.

While U.S. futures showed mixed results, oil prices remained relatively stable, indicating a calm in the commodities market.

During his ongoing tour of Asia, U.S. President Donald Trump has made optimistic remarks regarding ties with major economies such as Japan and China. These comments have bolstered investor confidence, helping to drive U.S. stocks to new record levels.

The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo saw a significant increase of 2.4%, closing at 51,410.40, further highlighting the positive sentiment in the Japanese market.

In the latest leg of his Asian tour, President Trump engaged in discussions with South Korea’s president after securing investment commitments worth $490 billion in Japan. However, reaching a trade agreement with South Korea remains an ongoing challenge.

Still, South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.2% to 4,058.37.

The Shanghai Composite index was up 0.5% at 4,006.21. It has been trading near decade highs ahead of Trump’s expected meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a regional summit in South Korea.

Trump and Xi have been locked in an escalating trade war, with Washington imposing high tariffs and tightened technology controls and China retaliating with curbs on rare earth shipments, one of its key sources of leverage.

The fact that a meeting is planned suggests there is room for some progress in easing tensions, experts say.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 1% to 8,926.20 after the release of higher than expected inflation data, an annual rate of 3.2%, dashed hopes for an interest rate cut anytime soon.

Taiwan’s Taiex gained 1.2% and India’s Sensex was up 0.3%.

On Tuesday, the U.S. stock market pushed further into record heights.

The S&P 500 added 0.2% to 6,890.89. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to 47,706.37, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to 23,827.49. All three indexes set all-time highs for a third straight day.

Wall Street is waiting for a few events that could shake things up. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve will announce its latest move on interest rates, while some of the stock market’s most influential companies will report how much profit they made during the summer.

Investors expect the Fed to announce a rate cut given the slowing job market. It would be the second time this year that it’s lowered the federal funds rate in hopes of helping the job market.

United Parcel Service rallied 8% Tuesday after delivering stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

PayPal climbed 3.9% after saying it made a bigger profit during the summer than analysts expected. It also said it plans to pay its shareholders a dividend every three months, while announcing a deal where internet users will be able to pay for purchases through OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Skyworks Solutions climbed 5.8% after saying it would merge with Qorvo in a cash-and-stock deal where Skyworks shareholders will own roughly 63% of the combined company, valued at $22 billion. Qorvo’s stock rose nearly as much, 5.7%.

Microsoft was one of the strongest forces lifting the market after rising 2%. That sent the company’s total value on Wall Street above $4 trillion.

On the losing end of Wall Street was Royal Caribbean, which lost 8.5% despite reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. Its revenue for the latest quarter fell short of expectations.

Homebuilder D.R. Horton sank 3.2% after reporting a weaker profit for the summer than analysts expected.

Amazon, meanwhile, rose 1% after saying it will cut about 14,000 corporate jobs, or about 4% of its corporate workforce, as it ramps up spending on artificial intelligence while cutting costs elsewhere.

In other dealings early Wednesday, U.S. benchmark crude oil inched up 2 cents to $60.17 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, also rose 2 cents, to $63.85 a barrel.

The U.S. dollar rose to 152.36 Japanese yen from 152.11 yen. The euro slipped to $1.1631 from $1.1651.

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AP Business Writers Stan Choe and Matt Ott contributed.