Asia-Pacific markets set to extend recovery as investors await Trump address on Iran war

Asia-Pacific markets were set to rise on Thursday, tracking similar moves on Wall Street as investors await an address by Donald Trump later in the day amid hopes that the U.S. president is looking to exit the Iran war.

Early Wednesday stateside, Trump claimed that Iran's "New Regime President" had asked the U.S. for a ceasefire, a claim that Tehran has denied.

Trump added that the U.S. will "consider" the offer only once the Strait of Hormuz was "open, free, and clear," he said on Truth Social.

Trump previously said he was willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 started the day up 0.33%, on pace for a third straight day of gains.

Japan's Nikkei 225 futures also pointed to a stronger open for the market, with the contract in Chicago at 54,370 and its counterpart in Osaka last trading at 54,280 compared to the index's last close of 53,739.68.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures were at 25,301, marginally higher than the HSI's last close of 25,294.03

U.S. stock futures were little changed, with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures just above the flatline. Dow futures were up 13 points, or 0.03% higher.

Overnight in the U.S., the S&P 500 advanced 0.72%, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.16%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.48%.

—CNBC's Lisa Kailai Han and Sean Conlon contributed to this report.