Asian Markets End Mixed on AI Risks, US-Iran Tensions

Asian stock markets ended mixed on Friday, pressured by concerns over the risks from heavy investments in artificial intelligence and escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, while oil prices continued to rise amid fears of disrupted nuclear talks. Trading took place across major exchanges in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and elsewhere, with some benchmarks declining and others advancing as investors weighed geopolitical uncertainties against sector-specific developments.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index fell 1.2 percent to close at 56,797.22, dragged down by declines in financial and technology shares. Major banks like Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group dropped 2.6 percent, reflecting worries about exposure to private credit firms lending to businesses vulnerable to AI disruption. The company has ties to Blue Owl Capital, whose shares lost 5.9 percent in New York the previous day. Automaker Toyota Motor Corp. slid 3.9 percent, and Sony declined 3.3 percent. The broader Topix index sank 1.2 percent to 3,805.43, with technology stocks such as Tokyo Electron down 3.4 percent and SoftBank Group off 3.2 percent. Air transport shares also weakened, with ANA Holdings falling 3.2...