Asia markets trade cautiously as oil prices rise ahead of US and Iran nuclear talks
Asian markets started Tuesday cautiously amid holiday closures while oil prices climbed before nuclear talks. Japan's weak GDP data fueled stimulus hopes.
Oil prices rose and Asian financial markets opened cautiously on February 17, 2026, as nuclear negotiations between the United States 
US and Iran 
IR were due to begin in Geneva. The talks and related regional military activity affect geopolitical risk premia that influence global oil shipments and financial market positioning. This development is particularly timely as the negotiations were imminent at 2026-02-17T01:18:26.000Z, occurring during a period of holiday-thinned Asian trading which reduced liquidity, elevating near-term market sensitivity.
US and Iran IR were due to begin in Geneva. The talks and related regional military activity affect geopolitical risk premia that influence global oil shipments and financial market positioning. This development is particularly timely as the negotiations were imminent at 2026-02-17T01:18:26.000Z, occurring during a period of holiday-thinned Asian trading which reduced liquidity, elevating near-term market sensitivity.The cautious opening across Asian financial markets was further influenced by prevailing expectations of OPEC+ supply increases. Investors are balancing these supply forecasts against the potential for diplomatic breakthroughs or setbacks in Geneva. The reduced liquidity in markets across China 
CN, Hong Kong 
HK, Singapore 
SG, Taiwan 
TW, and South Korea 
KR has amplified the impact of these geopolitical factors on price discovery.
CN, Hong Kong HK, Singapore SG, Taiwan TW, and South Korea KR has amplified the impact of these geopolitical factors on price discovery.
