Asia Stocks Slide as Oil Prices Rise Amid Middle East Tensions

Asian stocks opened mostly lower on September 8 as Middle East tensions pushed up oil prices, adding to inflation concerns and keeping investors wary about further monetary policy tightening.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index of regional equities dropped 0.2 per cent with benchmark gauges in Japan and Australia declining, while South Korea's rose.

Stock futures for the Nasdaq 100 index fluctuated in early Asian trade after US financial markets were shut on September 7 for a public holiday.

The Japanese yen advanced to its strongest since February, rising 0.4 per cent to 153.73 per dollar after rallying 1.2 per cent on September 7.