HONG KONG: Asian markets rose Friday as optimism over US-Iran talks buoyed equities, though higher oil prices kept inflation concerns in focus.
Investor sentiment stayed positive for a second straight day on hopes that diplomatic progress could stabilise energy supplies after weeks of turbulence from the Middle East conflict, even as crude prices ticked higher on the day.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks to end the war could progress, eyeing help from Pakistani mediators to help strike an agreement.
"I believe the Pakistanis will be travelling to Tehran today. So hopefully that'll advance this further," Rubio told reporters.
President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that negotiations were on the "borderline" between a deal and renewed strikes.
"If we don't get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We're all ready to go," Trump said.
A ceasefire agreed on April 8 halted weeks of fighting between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, but has yet to produce a lasting peace deal, leaving markets vacillating at every development.
Tehran said it was reviewing US proposals but warned of a "forceful response" to any renewed attack, as both sides exchanged terms under the threat of escalation.
A key sticking point remains the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed despite the ceasefire and normally transports one-fifth of global energy supplies.
In Asia, Tokyo led regional gains, with the Nikkei jumping more than 2%.
Taipei advanced nearly 1.5%, while Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were all in the green.
The gains followed a cautiously positive session on Wall Street, where equities edged higher at the close.
Attention also turned to South Korea, where unionised workers at Samsung were poised to begin voting on Friday on a tentative wage deal that has averted a major strike.
The chip giant and its union reached the provisional agreement late Wednesday following last-minute, government-mediated talks, avoiding a planned 18-day strike that was set to begin on Thursday.
The prospective deal introduces a new bonus pool for employees in the semiconductor division, equivalent to 10.5% of the division's operating profit, to be paid in stock.
While workers are expected to benefit from the deal, some shareholders have voiced opposition, vowing to pursue legal action against it.
Shares in Samsung Electronics were trading more than 1.5% lower on Friday morning.
Elsewhere, Japanese government data showed core inflation slowed to 1.4% in April, coming in below market expectations as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi rushes to draft an extra budged to offset the impacts of the Middle East war.
Sentiment on Wall Street was boosted by Elon Musk's filing for a public sale of SpaceX shares, which could be the largest initial public offering in history as the rocket and satellite company seeks to raise up to $75 billion.
Despite strong profit growth, shares in chip giant Nvidia failed to rally, initially edging higher before closing down 1.8%.
Walmart also fell sharply, dropping 7.3% after issuing a cautious outlook and warning about pressure on consumers.
Key figures at around 0215 GMT
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.9% at $104.52 a barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.4% at $97.76 a barrel
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.1% at 62,996.19
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.6% at 25,531.90
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2% at 4,083.24
Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1611 from $1.1622 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at 1.3427 from $1.3439
Dollar/yen: UP at 159.08 from 158.91 yen
Euro/pound: FLAT at 86.48 from 86.48 pence
New York - DOW: UP 0.6% at 50,285.66 points (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1% at 10,443.47 (close)
