Asian markets trade mixed on Monday, while US stock futures move lower as investors weigh progress in US-Iran negotiations. Sources report that trading conditions are divided across the region, with Japan and South Korea posting gains despite softer sentiment in US markets. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rises about 1.6%, with intraday trading reaching a new all-time high, helped by technology-related stocks. SoftBank Group is reported up around 2.4%, and chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron is up about 2.3%. South Korea’s Kospi also increases modestly, roughly 0.4%, and remains near record levels.
Meanwhile, oil prices edge lower, reflecting fresh optimism tied to the ongoing talks. US futures are reported to be falling, indicating that expectations for developments in negotiations are not translating uniformly into support for US-listed equities. Overall, the reporting points to a mix of sector and country performance in Asia, alongside cautious positioning ahead of further updates from the US-Iran dialogue.
