Asian markets started Friday on a mostly positive note, with investors remaining cautious amid an uneasy two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. MSCI's Asia-Pacific equity index rose 0.4% at the open, putting it on track for its first weekly advance since February.
Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.65%, although the broader Topix was little changed. In South Korea, the Kospi climbed 1.68%, while the tech-heavy Kosdaq added 1.14%.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200, however, slipped 0.51%. Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures were trading at 25,900, above Thursday's cash market close of 25,752.40.
Oil prices moved higher, with Brent rising about 1% to just under $97 per barrel after President Donald Trump warned Iran over potential charges on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that remains effectively closed. Trump also criticised Iran for failing to ensure smooth energy supply flows.
In the US, Wall Street closed higher overnight, even as oil prices eased from intraday highs. The S&P 500 gained 0.62% to end at 6,824.66, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.83% to 22,822.42. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 275.88 points, or 0.58%, to 48,185.80, turning positive for the year with a gain of 0.25%.
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