Asian stock markets are trading mixed on Thursday, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight, with traders remaining cautious as the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz continues, pushing crude oil prices higher to levels not seen in four years and continuing to escalate inflationary pressures. Asian markets closed mostly higher on Wednesday.
The ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran has left the Strait of Hormuz blocked since the war began on February 28.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Market Analysis
April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.