Asian Markets Mixed as Oil Rally and AI Concerns Weigh on Sentiment

Asian stock markets were mixed on Thursday as investors weighed mixed earnings from major US tech companies and rising oil prices. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.6% and S&P 500 futures dropped 0.4% in early Asian trading. Tesla shares fell 3.1% in post-market trading after the automaker cut its capital-spending forecast to about $20 billion for this year, reversing an earlier increase to over $25 billion. Meta Platforms rose 2% after hours after boosting its 2026 capital expenditure outlook to $135-145 billion, raising the bottom end from $130 billion. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed toward $98 a barrel following a deadly attack on a Saudi oil field, while Brent jumped 1% to above $110. The US State Department ordered departure of non-emergency personnel from Saudi Arabia due to Houthi militant threats, and US and Israeli military have developed plans for renewed strikes against Iran after the midterm elections.