Published on 22/06/2026 - 8:15 GMT+2•Updated 9:26

As trading got underway, Brent crude oil decreased 0.91% to reach $79.12 per barrel, whereas US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 0.70% to $75.32 per barrel.

Reduced petroleum costs mirrored wider trader attitudes during morning sessions after mediators from Qatar and Pakistan reported that initial discussions between the United States and Iran, focused on achieving a conclusive pact to halt hostilities, ended on a note of promising advancement.

An accord framework agreed upon the prior week outlines plans for a definitive settlement inside 60 days, cessation of combat across every theater including Lebanon, and restoration of access through the Strait of Hormuz.

Markets display mixed performance while experts track US-Iran discussions

At the same time, European exchanges began the week with varied results while Asian equities also finished mixed in overnight action, and US index futures pointed lower.

France's CAC 40 eased 0.07% to 8,415.50 points, Germany's DAX climbed 0.25% to 25,048.54 and London's FTSE 100 held nearly steady with a 0.03% gain to 10,367.66.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 advanced 1.6% to 72,364.82 after touching a fresh record peak of 72,831.73 intraday, supported by technology shares driven by excitement surrounding the worldwide artificial intelligence expansion.

Japan's SoftBank Group, the global investment firm with major AI interests, increased 2.4%, and chip equipment producer Tokyo Electron rose 2.3%.

South Korea's Kospi gained 0.4% to 9,084.37 and hovered near historic peaks, propelled by AI-linked equities, as memory chip manufacturer SK Hynix jumped 4.7%.

"We are witnessing continued market strength today," stated Neil Newman, managing director and head of strategy at Astris Advisory Japan. He warned that the Japanese market may be "somewhat extended" from an investment standpoint, "particularly given developments in the Middle East".

Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1% to 23,690.86, while the Shanghai Composite Index moved 0.2% higher to 4,098.01.