Asian stocks were steady and oil prices dipped on Thursday as investors assessed progress toward ending the war in the Middle East after the presidents of the US and Iran signed an interim peace deal, though uncertainties still hovered.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened down 166 points, or 0.69 percent, at 24,145.

The tech index was down 41 points, or 0.88 percent, at 4,628 while the China enterprises index was down 71 points, or 0.88 percent, at 8,072.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened down 0.34 percent at 4,094.

The Shenzhen Component Index was 0.34 percent lower at 15,826 while the ChiNext Index was down 0.32 percent at 4,153.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average opened 261 points, or 0.37 percent, up at 70,163 before surging 1,150 points, or 1.65 percent, up to 71,052 at one stage before midday.

In Seoul, the Kospi opened 20 points, or 0.23 percent, higher at 8,884 before edging further up by 53 points, or 0.6 percent, to 8,917 as chipmakers jumped on AI optimism.

The mixed openings came as the United States and Iran released the text of the interim peace deal, which had already circulated widely before its contents were published. It extends a ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days to allow the two sides to negotiate a final truce.

US President Donald Trump, however, threatened to resume attacks and kill Iranian officials if they failed to honour their commitments.

"Major geopolitical risk persists and will also remain a major driver of market action," said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst at Capital.com. (Reuters & Xinhua)



Edited by Azam Khan