Asia markets opened higher Monday as geopolitical tensions between Iran and the U.S. intensified. The U.S. Navy seized an Iranian cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, escalating Middle East conflict risks. Oil prices surged significantly in response, with West Texas Intermediate futures climbing 6.49% to $89.29 per barrel and Brent crude rising 6.34% to $96.12. Regional stock indices showed mixed performance. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.44%, boosted by SK Hynix's 3% jump following its mass production announcement for next-generation AI server memory. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.60%, while China's CSI 300 added 0.61%. However, U.S. futures pointed lower, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures down 0.9%. China held lending rates unchanged for the eleventh consecutive month amid energy price pressures.
