South Korean stocks fell 1.1%, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was little changed. (EPA Images pic)SYDNEY: Asian share markets got off to a cautious start on Monday as earnings season loomed as a challenge to sky-high tech valuations, while oil was choppy after strikes on shipping and airports in the Gulf.
There was considerable confusion about President Donald Trump's announcement of an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, which neither side had confirmed.
Trump's proposal for Russia to increase its exports of diesel was also under fire from Republican and Democratic senators as potentially illegal.
Brent futures LCOc1 started higher but soon slipped 1.1% to US$103.50 a barrel, away from the recent top of US$109.97, while US crude futures CLc1 lost 1.2% to US$90.73 a barrel.
