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Asia-Pacific Markets Struggle With Iran Tensions, Mixed Open Expected

Asia-Pacific equities faced mixed signals Friday as geopolitical tensions offset diplomatic progress. Iran's military conducted missile strikes late Thursday while signaling willingness to negotiate an end to its three-month conflict with the United States. The Pentagon reported Iranian ballistic missile activity near Kuwait and drone deployments around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting crude oil to surge and equities to decline. Japan's Nikkei 225 futures indicated gains, trading at 65,800 versus Thursday's 64,693 close. Australian futures pointed higher at 8,675 compared with the ASX 200's 8,592 finish. Hong Kong's Hang Seng futures slipped to 24,995 from 25,006. Strong guidance from Snowflake lifted U.S. technology stocks to record levels Thursday, providing some support for regional sentiment despite Middle East volatility.