Japan’s Nikkei index of shares surged more than four per cent on hopes of a deal between Iran and the United States and on the back of gains in tech stocks on Wall Street, AFP reports.

At 9:31 am, the Nikkei 225 was up 4.1pc at 61,937.78 points.

Investors were also closely watching the yen after speculation of intervention by the Japanese government to prop up the beleaguered currency.