Asian stock markets are trading mostly lower on Monday, following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street on Friday, as traders remain cautious and concerned about the escalating war in the Middle East and its impact on energy prices, inflation, economic growth and monetary policy. The prevailing uncertainty about the timeline for ending the war is weighing on overall market sentiment. Asian markets closed mostly lower on Friday.
Over the weekend, the U.S. struck military targets near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub, and warned it could expand attacks on energy infrastructure if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
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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.