GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia Stocks Skittish as Middle East Anxiety Offsets AI Optimism

GLOBAL MARKET - SINGAPORE. Asian stocks made a cautious start to trading on Tuesday as uncertainty over whether the ceasefire in the Middle East conflict capped the lift to sentiment from renewed optimism around AI.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fluctuated between gains and losses as trading commenced, last 0.5% lower, led by a 2% decline for Korean shares after an initially higher open.