Asian Tech Rallies as Markets Brace for Global Rate Hikes

Brent crude climbed alongside U.S. oil benchmarks as geopolitical friction flared in the Gulf, adding fuel to ongoing inflationary pressures. The resulting spike in diesel prices complicates the outlook for central banks, with the European Central Bank expected to join the Federal Reserve in tightening monetary policy. Traders are now pivoting their focus toward the upcoming U.S. core CPI report, which will serve as the next litmus test for the Fed's trajectory. Bond yields and equity indices remain volatile as investors recalibrate portfolios for a sustained period of higher interest rates and persistent energy price volatility.