Asian stocks fall as tech jitters and Iran sanctions cloud Nvidia outlook

Asian stocks mostly fell Tuesday as technology share pressure combined with geopolitical uncertainty ahead of Nvidia's earnings and U.S. inflation data. The MSCI AC Asia Pacific gauge dropped about 0.5%, while U.S. futures steadied. Nvidia is expected to report quarterly revenue of roughly $92 billion Wednesday, testing whether the AI rally can meet high expectations. The Trump administration threatened broader sanctions on Iran, though oil pulled back to around $92 a barrel. South Korea's KOSPI fell 1.3% on chip losses, while Japan's Nikkei rose 0.2%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.6% on strong earnings, while China and Hong Kong retreated. Texas Governor Greg Abbott paused new data-center grid approvals over electricity concerns. Markets await the Fed's preferred PCE inflation report Wednesday, with traders pricing one rate hike by end-2026.