Asian shares edged higher and oil prices remained flat on Monday, as investors weighed signs of progress in Middle East peace negotiations against a busy week of corporate earnings and economic data. The cautious optimism came after reports of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, though no formal ceasefire has been announced.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.3%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.5%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.2%. Meanwhile, Brent crude futures traded near $75 a barrel, little changed from Friday's close, as traders monitored potential supply disruptions from the region.
In the United States, futures pointed to a flat open on Wall Street, with investors awaiting earnings from major companies including Apple and Amazon later this week. The Federal Reserve's next policy decision is also on the horizon, with markets pricing in a 70% chance of a rate hold.
The Middle East situation remains fluid. While diplomatic efforts continue, no concrete agreement has been reached, keeping oil prices range-bound. Analysts say a sustained rally would require either a major supply disruption or a clear resolution to the conflict.
