FX.co ★ Asian Stocks Fall as Oil Extends Rally

Asian equity markets mostly declined on Friday as rising oil prices weighed on sentiment, amid stalled US-Iran peace negotiations and ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Persistent supply uncertainty has kept energy prices elevated, heightening concerns about inflation and global growth. Major Asian economies, including China, Japan, and South Korea, remain heavily dependent on oil imports from the Middle East, leaving the region particularly vulnerable to developments in the Iran conflict. Shares in Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and China all traded lower. Japanese equities were mixed, as investors digested inflation data that remained below the Bank of Japan’s 2% target ahead of its policy meeting next week.