Stocks trade cautiously in Asia, Brent off six-month top

Asian shares were mixed on Monday as Brent crude slipped 1.6% to $114.88, retreating from a six-month high, Business Recorder reported. US crude also declined, falling 1.9% to $101.29 a barrel, after reports of mediation efforts in Tehran aimed at easing regional tensions. Brent had risen 6.2% last week as attacks in Saudi Arabia raised concerns about energy supplies.

Investors were also weighing a busy week of central-bank decisions and company earnings, including results from major US technology firms that could test confidence in artificial intelligence-related stocks. Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.5%, South Korea’s benchmark lost 1.1%, and Chinese blue chips dropped 1.0%; US and European futures were mostly firmer. Markets expect the US Federal Reserve to hold rates this week, while New Zealand’s central bank is widely expected to raise them.