06:40 AM EDT, 03/30/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets largely fell back Monday as traders mulled Middle East hostilities, rising petroleum prices, and the still-closed Strait of Hormuz.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the red, although Shanghai edged into the green. Most other regional exchanges lost ground.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower and could not recover, finishing off 2.8% as traders weighed fuel bills, and commentary by Japan's top central banker that rate hikes may necessary.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1,487.22 to 51,885.85, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 195 to 29.

Leading the upside was oil-and-gas plant engineers JGC, up 4.3%, while Mitsubishi Motors fell 6.5%.

In economic news, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said he would monitor the declining foreign-exchange rate of the nation's currency, the yen, and suggested inflation from a weak yen might justify interest-rate hikes.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and drifted sideways, closing off 0.8% on Persian Gulf hostilities, and Brent crude prices topping $107 a barrel.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 201.09 to 24,750.79 as losing issues outnumbered gainers 64 to 25. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 1.8% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.9%.

Leading the upside was aluminum-producer China Hongqiao, gaining 3.7%, while knitwear-maker Shenzhou International declined 8.1%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,923.29, lifted by aluminum and oil producers.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 3%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 1.8%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.7%; the Singapore Straits Times Index was steady, and the Thai Set inclined 0.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 2.2%.

The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index fell 2.1% on the day.