• Asian equities mostly declined as rising oil prices weighed on sentiment amid stalled US–Iran talks and Hormuz disruptions.
• Major Asian economies are pressured as supply uncertainty keeps energy prices high, raising inflation and global growth concerns.
• Japan’s Nikkei 225 mixed as inflation stays below BoJ’s 2% target ahead of next week’s policy meeting.

Asian equity markets mostly declined on Friday as higher oil prices pressured sentiment amid stalled US–Iran peace talks and ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. However, Japanese equities were mixed as investors assessed inflation data that remained below the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) 2% target ahead of next week’s policy meeting.

Persistent supply uncertainty has kept energy prices elevated, heightening concerns over inflation and global growth. Major Asian economies remain heavily dependent on Middle East oil imports, leaving the region particularly vulnerable to developments in the Iran conflict.

At the time of writing, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is down 0.2% near 25,860, and South Korea’s KOSPI falls 0.93% to near 6,410, along with China’s SSE Composite Index is declining 0.58%, toward 4,050. However, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading 0.61% higher, near 59,500.

Japan’s annual inflation rose to 1.5% in March from February’s near four-year low of 1.3%. Core inflation picked up to 1.8% YoY from 1.6% but remained below the BoJ’s 2% target for a second consecutive month.

Markets broadly expect the BoJ to keep interest rates unchanged as policymakers assess heightened uncertainty from the Middle East, where stalled US–Iran peace efforts and ongoing blockades in the Strait of Hormuz continue to lift energy prices and intensify inflation risks.

Hong Kong equities declined as risk appetite stayed subdued amid persistent geopolitical tensions and mixed global signals. The US military intercepted two Iranian oil supertankers attempting to evade its blockade, while Tehran continues to threaten vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell, led by weakness in technology shares, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street and profit-taking after recent record highs. Meanwhile, rising geopolitical tensions prompted a rotation into defense-related stocks, partially offsetting broader declines, with gains seen in Hanwha Aerospace and Doosan Enerbility.

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