Asian Shares Surge, Oil Eases on Mideast Deal Hopes

Asian shares surged and oil prices slipped Wednesday after U.S. stocks hit records, buoyed by strong corporate earnings and hopes for a deal that could lead to talks ending the war in Iran. Tokyo, Seoul, and Taiwan benchmarks jumped over 3%, led by chipmakers and AI-related stocks. Brent crude fell 1.2% to $78.43 per barrel amid optimism about reopening the Strait of Hormuz.