Asian Markets Mixed as US Sanctions on Iran Keep Oil Prices Steady

Asian shares were mostly lower Tuesday after U.S. stocks finished mixed, while oil prices held steady following new U.S. sanctions on Iran announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 0.4%, while South Korea's Kospi fell 0.4% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.3%. Tech stocks led declines on worries about AI valuations, with Nvidia dropping 2.9% ahead of its earnings report Wednesday. The 10-year Treasury yield eased to 4.71% after the U.S. expanded bond buybacks, though analysts say this won't fix fundamental issues like high debt and oil prices. Brent crude traded near $90.51 per barrel, above pre-war levels.