Asian Markets Trade Mostly Lower

Asian stock markets are trading mostly lower on Tuesday, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight, with South Korean markets leading regional declines amid weakness in semiconductor stocks on concerns about heavy spending over artificial intelligence. Heightened concerns of crude oil-related supply disruption and global inflationary threats continue to sour market sentiment. Asian markets closed mostly lower on Monday.

Traders continue to dissect the consequences of the massive economic blockade launched by the U.S. against Iran as well as the threat of secondary sanctions on its “enablers.” This is seen as an effort to pressure Tehran back to the negotiating table and force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.