Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors assess latest U.S.-Iran signals

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Tuesday as investors weighed developments in U.S.-Iran negotiations.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his national security team on Monday discussed Iran’s reported offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on the U.S. lifting its blockade and ending the conflict, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

It remains unclear whether Trump, who has said sanctions relief would come only once a deal is “100% complete,” is willing to consider the proposal as a pathway to de-escalation in the two-month-long conflict.

“I will confirm the president has met with his national security team this morning,” Leavitt said at a press briefing Monday afternoon when asked about the reports.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.49% after notching a record high on Monday, while the Topix added 0.23%. South Korea’s Kospi rose over 1% to hit a fresh record high while the small-cap Kosdaq declined 0.92%.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.58%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 0.48%, while the CSI 300 declined 0.22%.

Shares of Chinese optical computing firm Lightelligence surged over 380% on its debut on Tuesday.

The company sold 13.8 million shares at HK$183.20 each, raising about HK$2.53 billion ($323 million) in gross proceeds, according to its filing.

Shares of Contemporary Amperex Technology fell 7% after the company kicked off a roughly $5 billion share offering in Hong Kong.

U.S. futures edged higher, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures adding 0.12%, or 57 points. S&P 500 futures rose 0.14%, while Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.15%.

Overnight in the U.S., the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose to new record highs but gains were limited as stalled Iran peace talks and a fresh escalation in the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices higher.

The broad market index added 0.12% and closed at a record level of 7,173.91. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.20% and notched a closing record of 24,887.10. Both indexes also reached new all-time highs in the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 62.92 points, or 0.13%, to settle at 49,167.79.

— CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Yun Li contributed to this report.