Shafaqna English– On Monday(17 Aug 2026), Asian stock markets showed little movement, trading within a narrow range as investors remained cautious about crude oil prices. Oil had recorded significant increases over the previous week, primarily because ongoing stalemate in efforts to resolve the Iran conflict continued to push inflation concerns higher.
Talks aimed at achieving peace have made no headway, and the movement of oil tankers through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains completely suspended. On Saturday, Iran urged the United States to concede defeat, while President Donald Trump advised American citizens to brace themselves for higher fuel prices as long as the military confrontation persists.
In Monday’s trading session, the MSCI Asia-Pacific index, which excludes Japan, remained virtually unchanged. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei index managed to edge up by 0.4%. In contrast, Australia’s stock market, which is heavily dependent on mining and energy sectors, experienced a slight decline of 0.3%.
Source: Reuters