Asia markets mixed as oil nears $100; China CPI up

The oil surge toward $100 is the dominant cross-asset signal here, lifting energy names while tech and broader regional indices diverge. China's CPI and PPI both turning positive month-on-month suggests a stabilization in domestic demand and producer pricing, though the flat Hang Seng and soft tech index indicate that macro data isn't yet translating into broad risk appetite. The key tension is whether sustained high oil costs—driven by geopolitical risk—can coexist with a recovering Chinese economy, or if input cost pressures will undermine the nascent positive inflation trend. Watch whether energy-led strength persists or fades as markets digest the interplay between US-Iran tensions and China's reflation signals.