Asian equities edge higher as oil rises on Gulf uncertainty

Asian equity markets edged higher in trading, while crude oil prices rose against a backdrop of confusion over developments in the Gulf. Oil markets remain sensitive to any disruption or ambiguity around Gulf supply, given the region's share of global crude exports and the concentration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Equity investors in the region showed limited reaction, with indices posting small advances. Energy price moves of this kind feed into inflation expectations, a consideration for central banks weighing the timing of policy changes.