Asian stocks declined on Friday as rising crude oil prices linked to geopolitical tensions rattled investors.
Brent crude prices rose more than 1 percent toward $102 a barrel in Asian trading as concerns over supply disruptions overshadowed news of a record release of emergency reserves by members of the International Energy Agency.
Additionally, the Trump administration has issued its second authorization for buyers to take Russian oil cargoes already at sea and announced it was considering loosening shipping rules in a bid to ease growing pressure on prices.
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May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.