[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks are mostly lower amid cautiousness ahead of this week's busy central bank schedule and after the US struck Iran's main oil export hub but left oil infrastructure intact

APAC Stocks: Mostly negative

• Asia-Pac stocks are mostly lower amid cautiousness at the start of a busy week of central bank meetings and following the continued Iran conflict after the US struck military targets in Iran's key oil export hub of Kharg Island, but left oil infrastructure intact.

ASX 200: -0.5%

• Index is dragged lower by underperformance in mining, materials, resources and tech, while the RBA also kicks off its two-day policy meeting, where the central bank is widely expected to hike rates for the second consecutive meeting amid inflationary pressures.

Nikkei 225: -0.9%

• Retreated amid losses in utilities and electric names due to the ongoing energy-related uncertainty, despite Japan beginning its emergency oil release, while the Japanese data calendar is quiet to start the week, but begins to pick up on Tuesday, and the BoJ are also set to conduct a policy meeting later in the week.

Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng +0.8% / Shanghai Comp -0.7%

• Chinese markets are mixed as participants digest stronger-than-expected activity data for China, and with US-China trade talks in Paris on Sunday said to be constructive and will resume today. However, there were also comments from US President Trump, who called for China to help open the Strait of Hormuz and suggested a potential delay to the Trump-Xi summit scheduled later this month.

US Equity Futures: Positive

• Clawed back opening losses and more amid fluctuations in oil prices.

European Equity Futures +0.3%

• Indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.3% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.6% on Friday.

The Asia-Pacific markets are largely in the red as traders react cautiously ahead of a week packed with central bank meetings, particularly with the Reserve Bank of Australia likely to raise rates further. The backdrop of geopolitical tension, particularly following the US strike on Iran's oil export hub and the mixed performance in China, continues to inject uncertainty into investor sentiment, impacting sectors like mining and tech. This cautious market mood suggests traders are weighing potential central bank policy shifts against geopolitical risks, particularly in commodities and energy.