Japanese equities rallied on their return from a break, helping lift Asian shares to yet another record, as optimism grew that the U.S. and Iran were nearing a deal to end the conflict that had rattled markets and clouded the economic outlook.The 225-issue Nikkei stock average climbed 3.4%, with gauges in Australia and South Korea also rising on speculation easing of tensions in the Middle East will lower oil prices and help lift economic growth. The broader MSCI Asia Pacific Index advanced 0.6%. Gains in Asia followed the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 indexes both closing at a record high on Wednesday, reflecting healthy risk appetite.Helping the sentiment was Brent crude sliding almost 8% on Wednesday to just above $101 a barrel, sparking a rally in U.S. and global bonds. The commodity opened higher on Thursday. Gold jumped and the dollar fell to pre-war levels during the U.S. session. Falling energy commodities eased inflation concerns and led to receding bets on interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.