[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks gained in holiday-thinned trade amid tech strength, while the region digests strong US jobs data and mixed geopolitical headlines

APAC Stocks: Positive

• Asia-Pac stocks are higher despite the recent threats by US President Trump, as the region also digests last Friday's better-than-expected US jobs data, while there was some encouragement after more ships sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran exempted Iraq from shipping restrictions. Furthermore, Trump also said he believes they can get a deal before his deadline, and Axios reported that mediators are making a last-ditch effort for a potential 45-day ceasefire. However, conditions remain extremely thin owing to mass holiday closures on Monday for Easter and the Ching Ming Festival.

Nikkei 225: +1.0%

• Shrugged off the initial geopolitical headwinds and tested the 54,000 level, where it then met some resistance, while news that two Japan-linked vessels passed through Hormuz provided some encouragement.

KOSPI +1.2%

• Index was led higher by early tech strength with Samsung Electronics rallying ahead of tomorrow's preliminary Q1 results, with the Co. expected to post a six-fold increase in operating profit to a record KRW 40.5tln due to an AI-driven surge in memory chip demand.

US Equity Futures: Choppy

• Price action is indecisive following the recent mixed geopolitical headlines, including Trump's Tuesday evening deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.