Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher for the second straight day on Friday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, on easing crude oil prices and global inflation pressures as traders watched the ongoing diplomatic process to end U.S.-Iran hostilities in the Middle East with positivity. The continuing blockade on the Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic capped the upward movement. Asian markets ended mostly higher on Thursday.
Traders also reacted to reports suggesting that Iran's Supreme Leader has issued a directive that the country's near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad. Later, a senior Iranian official denied the reports and said no new order has been issued, calling the reports "propaganda by the enemies of the deal."
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Business News
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.