Asia shares wary, oil volatile as Iran war drags on

Asian markets were in a wary mood on Monday (March 16) as hostilities in the Gulf kept oil prices elevated, complicating an inflation outlook that should keep most central banks on pause at policy meetings this week, barring one possible hike.

In South Korea, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened up 23.58 points, or 0.43%, at 5,510.82. Over in Japan, the benchmark Nikkei Share Average declined 0.36% at 53627.86 after the stock market opened in Tokyo.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.12 per cent to 25,436.27 points at the market open, dropping 29.33 points.

-Production: Daewoung Kim, Minwoo Park, Irene Wang, Joyce Zhou/Reuters