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Asian equities push higher from the lows as crude prices easeAsian stocks rose Friday as US and Israeli leaders eased Iran conflict worries. MSCI Asia Pacific Index up 0.3%. Brent opened lower, US 10-year yield at 4.25%. Gold sees largest weekly loss in 6 years.By CNBCTV18.com March 20, 2026, 6:20:18 AM IST (Published)3 Min ReadAfter US stocks recovered from session lows and oil fell as US and Israeli leaders attempted to allay worries about the Iran conflict, Asian stocks rose at the outset on Friday.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased by 0.3% following a 2.6% decline in the previous session, when attacks on Middle Eastern energy assets heightened worries about the war's long-term effects on the economy. After the underlying benchmark ended the most recent session down 0.3%, recovering from a 1% decline, S&P 500 futures likewise saw gains.

On Friday, Brent opened lower. There won't be any cash trading in Treasuries during Asian hours because Japanese markets are closed for a vacation.

Israeli PM Netanyahu stated that the conflict will end far sooner than people believe since Iran is no longer able to produce ballistic missiles or enrich uranium, which helped US equities avoid losses. Israel will no longer target electricity infrastructure, he added. When questioned about the potential deployment of US ground forces, Trump told reporters he is "not putting troops anywhere".

To determine how long the war in Iran will endure and whether tensions will continue to rise from here, traders are analysing every geopolitical headline. In an attempt to curb rising energy costs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the United States is seeking to lift long-standing restrictions against Iranian oil.

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In the meantime, yields on government bonds issued by Australia and New Zealand increased on Friday as investors in global debt markets rushed to wager on higher interest rates due to worries that the spike in oil prices since the start of the conflict would cause an inflation shock.

After the Bank of England declared on Thursday that it "stands ready" to take action to stop inflation from escalating, the UK's two-year rate increased by up to 40 basis points to 4.49%. The US 10-year yield dropped two basis points to 4.25% as Treasury bonds recovered from their lowest point of the session. The policy-sensitive two-year yield, on the other hand, increased by two basis points to 3.79%.

Gold is headed for its largest weekly loss in six years as the war diminishes the likelihood of a US interest rate cut in the foreseeable future. Since the US and Israel invaded Iran last month, the precious metal, which is largely seen as a haven, has decreased every week.

The energy supply system has been disrupted by three weeks of fighting. The Strait of Hormuz is all but closed, the cost of petrol and jet fuel is skyrocketing, cooking gas shortages are causing clashes in India, and farmers are worried about fertiliser and diesel.

One-year and five-year loan prime rates in China, export orders for Taiwan, and inflation for Hong Kong are among the data sets that will be released on Friday in Asia.Continue Reading(Edited by : Juviraj Anchil)Tagsasian markets today