Asia Markets Pause as Iran Talks Weigh on Oil, Nikkei Dips while Kospi Reaches New High

Asia-Pacific stocks were mixed as investors weighed uncertainty in U.S.-Iran negotiations. Japan’s Nikkei-225 fell about 0.5% after a record, while Korea’s Kospi rose over 1% to a fresh high and Kosdaq dipped. Japan’s central bank kept rates at 0.75% and lifted inflation forecasts as supply risks from the Iran crisis mount. Australia’s ASX 200 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped, and China’s CSI 300 fell modestly. Lightelligence jumped roughly 380% on its HK debut, and CATL slid about 7% after a ~$5 billion share offering. U.S. futures were modestly higher, and overnight the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit records despite Iran tensions as oil rose on the risk backdrop.