HomeWorld NewsSouth Korea's Kospi hits fresh record as Asia markets trade mixed amid...

South Korea’s Kospi hits fresh record as Asia markets trade mixed amid oil surge, Iran risks

Published on

spot_img

South Korea’s Kospi opened at a fresh record Monday, leading gains in Asia-Pacific markets amid rising oil prices and escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

President Donald Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s latest proposal to end the war, however, stoked worries over an elongated Middle East conflict.

Iran submitted a new proposal to U.S. negotiators focused on ending the Middle East conflict. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said that the counteroffer called for an end to the war on all fronts and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran, citing an informed source.

However, Trump said he did not like Iran’s response and called it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” in a Truth Social Post.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the war with Iran was “not over,” as the U.S. and Israel still aim to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Netanyahu’s comments come ahead of Trump’s trip to China later this week, where he’s expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The war and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran have spiked global energy costs and sharply raised gas prices in the U.S.

The West Texas Intermediate futures for June was 3.94% higher at $99.18 per barrel as of 9:32 p.m. ET. Brent crude futures for July rose 3.49% to $104.83 per barrel.

South Korea’s Kospi gained 4.70% after opening to a fresh record, while the small-cap Kosdaq was 0.30% lower. Index heavyweight SK Hynix rose 10.74%, tracking U.S. chip-related equities which surged Friday.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was in choppy trade and was marginally lower, while the Topix gained 0.19%. Nintendo shares fell 5.54%, as investors digested news that the game developer will hike Switch 2 prices while expecting a decline in console sales.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was 0.83% lower.

China’s CSI 300 added 0.58%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 0.48%. Investors were also assessing data showing that China’s consumer and producer inflation rose more than expected in April, driven by higher commodity costs linked to the Middle East conflict.

Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

hide content

Latest articles

China consumer, wholesale inflation tops estimates in April as Iran war drives energy costs higher

A shopper walks past a Coach retail store inside a shopping mall on March 24, 2026 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images China's consumer and producer inflation jumped more than expected in April as the Middle East conflict drives commodity costs higher, offering a reflationary boost to the economy. Consumer prices

Oil climbs as Netanyahu and Trump remarks stoke worries over rising Middle East tensions

The Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Shenlong Suezmax successfully docked at Mumbai Port after navigating the high-risk Strait of Hormuz amid the intensifying West Asia conflict on March 11, 2026 in Mumbai, India. Hindustan Times | Getty Images Oil prices jumped Monday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the conflict with Iran was "not

From Singapore to Brussels, world leaders eye Trump-Xi summit from afar

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan on October 30, 2025. Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will seek a truce in their bruising trade war on October 30, with the US

The Bestselling Cars in Each State

The Bestselling Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in Each State The top five bestselling cars, trucks, and SUVs in each state—including an EV in unexpected places. MotorTrend Staff Writer Ryan LugoIllustration By May 07, 2026 Automakers love to tout how well their vehicles sell nationwide, but what about in each U.S. state (as well as D.C.

More like this

China consumer, wholesale inflation tops estimates in April as Iran war drives energy costs higher

A shopper walks past a Coach retail store inside a shopping mall on March 24, 2026 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images China's consumer and producer inflation jumped more than expected in April as the Middle East conflict drives commodity costs higher, offering a reflationary boost to the economy. Consumer prices

Oil climbs as Netanyahu and Trump remarks stoke worries over rising Middle East tensions

The Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Shenlong Suezmax successfully docked at Mumbai Port after navigating the high-risk Strait of Hormuz amid the intensifying West Asia conflict on March 11, 2026 in Mumbai, India. Hindustan Times | Getty Images Oil prices jumped Monday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the conflict with Iran was "not

From Singapore to Brussels, world leaders eye Trump-Xi summit from afar

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan on October 30, 2025. Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will seek a truce in their bruising trade war on October 30, with the US