Japan’s Nikkei 225 was marginally higher, rising less than 0.1% to 62,774.94. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 0.9% to 7,708.05, recovering part of the sharp losses seen earlier in the week. The index had dropped 2.3% from a record high after comments from a senior government official raised concerns that excess profits earned by AI companies could be redistributed among citizens.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.3% to 8,645.80. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 0.4% to 26,246.29, while China’s Shanghai Composite remained largely flat, easing less than 0.1% to 4,213.86.
Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, said strong corporate earnings and continued enthusiasm around artificial intelligence have so far helped cushion markets against broader risks, but conditions are becoming increasingly challenging.
He noted that persistently high oil prices and the lack of any major diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran are making it harder for bullish market sentiment to hold firm.
In the energy market, benchmark US crude fell 58 cents to $101.60 a barrel, while Brent crude dropped 66 cents to $107.11 per barrel.
Even after the decline, oil prices remain significantly above levels seen before the Iran conflict intensified. Brent crude had been trading near $70 per barrel prior to the outbreak of the war. The ongoing conflict has effectively disrupted tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, limiting the flow of crude shipments.