Asian Markets Rise as Oil Falls on Hormuz Reopening Hopes

Asian shares mostly rose Wednesday as investors watched talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices fell. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.6% to 66,227.55, South Korea's Kospi rose 1.6% to 6,849.92 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.8% to 25,712.29. The Shanghai Composite climbed 0.7% to 3,917.04, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2% to 9,142.60. U.S. crude dropped $2.06 to $80.30 a barrel, while Brent fell $2.31 to $86.27. Optimism over artificial intelligence also supported regional equities.