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Asian markets were mixed connected Tuesday (May 19, 2026) arsenic lipid prices eased connected hopes of a U.S.-Iran deal, though elevated crude levels capped capitalist appetite for risk.
Energy markets held centre signifier aft U.S. President Donald Trump signalled “serious negotiations” with Tehran and called disconnected planned strikes, boosting optimism that tensions could.
The warfare the United States and Israel launched February 28 has led to an effectual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, done which astir 20% of planetary lipid exports passed successful peacetime.
The leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates asked him “to clasp disconnected connected our planned Military onslaught of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, successful that superior negotiations are present taking place”, Mr. Trump wrote connected his Truth Social platform.
But Mr. Trump added that helium instructed the U.S. subject to beryllium “prepared to spell guardant with a full, ample standard battle of Iran, connected a moment’s notice, successful the lawsuit that an acceptable Deal is not reached”.
Speaking aboriginal astatine a White House event, Mr. Trump said determination had been a “very affirmative development” and that Arab allies said a woody was adjacent that would permission Iran without atomic weapons, which Tehran denies pursuing.
“There seems to beryllium a precise bully accidental that they tin enactment thing out. If we tin bash that without bombing the hellhole retired of them, I’d beryllium precise happy,” Mr. Trump said.
However, helium besides warned the United States was prepared to motorboat a “full, large-scale assault” if negotiations collapse, underscoring the fragility of the situation.
Oil dipped connected the imaginable of diplomacy, but the determination offered lone constricted alleviation aft weeks of volatility driven by the Middle East conflict.
International benchmark Brent was hovering astir $109 portion West Texas Intermediate astatine $107.
Equity show wavered.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 opened lower, with section jitters offset by section resilience. Japan’s gross home merchandise expanded 0.5% successful the archetypal quarter, exceeding marketplace forecasts of 0.4%.
Seoul’s Kospi slid by much than 4 percent, with tech stocks losing crushed aft taking their pb from Wall Street. Shanghai, Taipei and Jakarta besides slid.
Hong Kong, Sydney and Wellington were ahead.
Safe-haven request was higher, with some golden and metallic edging up, suggesting investors stay wary.
All eyes are connected Wednesday’s (May 20, 2026) quarterly results from U.S. spot titan Nvidia, which volition beryllium scrutinised arsenic investors question whether immense spending connected AI information centres is justified by imaginable returns.
