Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Monday, following the mixed cues from Wall Street on Friday, with markets in China and Japan closed, as traders remain cautious amid the uncertainty prevailing around the peace proposal to end the Middle East war. Crude oil prices also eased with potential US-led maritime security measures in the Strait of Hormuz to provide safe passage to vessels. Asian markets closed mostly higher on Friday.
US President Donald Trump announced that the US would escort neutral vessels safely through the passageway, aiming to help ships stranded by the conflict with Iran transit securely.
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Market Analysis
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.