Asian Stocks Under Pressure, Oil Near Four-Month Low as Volatility Risks Highlighted

\GLOBAL MARKET - TOKYO. Asian stocks struggled for direction on Wednesday while crude oil prices extended declines to hover near four-month lows, as analysts cautioned about renewed volatility from stretched AI valuations and the prospects for U.S.-Iran peace talks.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last up 0.4% after swinging gains and losses. South Korean shares, which plunged 10% on Tuesday in their sharpest one-day drop since March, rallied 3.5%, while Japan's Nikkei shed 0.4% and Taiwan stocks lost 1.9%