Asian equity markets delivered a mixed performance on Wednesday, while oil prices remained volatile as geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East continued to dominate sentiment. Negotiations aimed at ending the Iran conflict appear to have stalled, with no immediate progress toward reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
According to reports, Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Tehran’s latest proposals, pushing for nuclear issues to be addressed upfront. The Wall Street Journal also indicated that US officials are preparing for the possibility of a prolonged blockade, a scenario that would likely sustain upward pressure on energy markets.
Across Asia, trading was uneven but broadly resilient. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.3%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 1.4%. Mainland China’s Shanghai Composite added 0.3%. In contrast, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3%, and Taiwan’s Taiex declined 0.6%. India’s BSE Sensex edged 0.4% higher, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 remained closed for a public holiday.
In the US, equities closed lower on Tuesday, pressured by rising oil prices and weakness in technology stocks. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.9%.
The tech sector came under particular pressure following reports that OpenAI missed an internal performance target. Semiconductor exposure amplified the sell-off: Nvidia declined 1.6%, while Broadcom fell 4.4%. Oracle, which is heavily involved in data infrastructure tied to AI workloads, dropped 3.9%.
Meanwhile, energy markets remained highly sensitive to geopolitical developments. Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed to around $111 per barrel on Tuesday evening, reflecting concerns over supply disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions.
Overall, markets continue to trade cautiously, with investors balancing geopolitical risks, energy price volatility, and sector-specific pressures—particularly within technology.
