Asian markets mostly fell Monday as
traders track developments in the Ukraine war and diplomatic efforts to bring
the crisis to an end, while this week’s Federal Reserve meeting is in focus
as it prepares to start lifting interest rates.

Oil prices dropped, providing some respite after they soared to a near 14-
year high last week, though the commodity remains elevated around $110 and
keeping upward pressure on inflation.

Trading floors continue to be flooded with uncertainty as Russia’s war in
Ukraine rages, with comments from Vladimir Putin that there were “positive
developments” in talks with Kyiv unable to provide much support.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is due to meet senior Chinese
diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome later Monday, with Ukraine top of the agenda as
the White House seeks help in bringing the crisis to a swift conclusion.
Beijing has declined to directly condemn Moscow for launching its invasion,
and has repeatedly blamed NATO’s “eastward expansion” for worsening tensions
between Russia and Ukraine, echoing the Kremlin’s prime security grievance.

Investors are also nervously awaiting the Fed’s latest policy gathering,
which is expected to end Wednesday with the bank announcing a quarter-point
interest rate hike.

The meeting comes as the US central bank tries to walk a fine line between
trying to rein in runaway inflation while also trying to support the world’s
biggest economy in the face of the war in Ukraine, which many fear could lead
to another recession.

“We are experiencing extraordinary volatility in global equities
compounded by wavering market sentiment, and the risk of recession
intensifies on spiralling commodity prices,” Louise Dudley at Federated
Hermes said.

“We expect ongoing swings in the short term as geopolitical uncertainty
over Russian crude persists.”

The prospect of higher borrowing costs has seen the dollar rally across
the board, hitting multi-year highs against the yen, pound and euro.

After another drop on Wall Street, Asia struggled.

Hong Kong led losses, shedding more than three percent — and below 20,000
for the first time in almost six years. Tech firms were among the worst-hit
owing to concerns over China’s crackdown on the sector and as the country’s
tech hub Shenzhen was put into lockdown.

Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok and Wellington also
tumbled, though Tokyo, Sydney and Jakarta rose.

Oil prices slipped despite strict sanctions on Russia that have seen the
United States ban crude imports from the country, and following the
announcement of a pause in negotiations to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement
between Iran and world powers.

The news comes just as it appeared a deal was close, which would have
allowed Tehran to sell its crude on world markets again, easing a supply
crisis.

The setback came after Russia said it was demanding guarantees that the
Western sanctions imposed on its economy following its invasion of Ukraine
would not affect its trade with Iran.

– Key figures around 0230 GMT –

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 25,337.39 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 3.6 percent at 19,820.25

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.4 percent at 3,265.23

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 3.0 percent at $109.26 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.1 percent at $105.95

Dollar/yen: UP at 117.81 yen from 117.26 yen Friday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0912 from $1.0908

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3013 from $1.3030

Euro/pound: UP at 83.85 pence from 83.70 pence

New York – Dow: DOWN 0.7 percent at 32,944.19 (close)

London – FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 7,155.64 (close)