• MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.4% Published July 6, 2026 Updated 2 minutes ago By Reuters SYDNEY: Asian share markets were mostly firmer on Monday, as Wall Street futures started the week with gains on hopes for an upbeat earnings season, while easing oil prices promised relief from inflationary pressures. While there were no new developments in the fractious U.S.-Iran peace talks, ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz with 160 vessels reported from Monday to Saturday last week. OPEC+also agreed a further increase in output targets by 188,000 barrels per day from August, on top of similar increases for June and July. As a result, Brent slipped 0.6% to near four-month lows at $71.70 a barrel and U.S. crude lost 0.5% to $68.38. The cooling in energy costs combined with a softer U.S. payrolls report, led markets to scale back the risk of a Federal Reserve rate hike in the near term, with futures implying a 78% chance of a steady outcome at the July 29 meeting. Minutes of the ⁠Fed’s last meeting are due on Wednesday and should offer colour on the hawkish turn by some board members, though that preceded the recent slide in oil. “Even if you thought there was a risk the Fed might move soon, I think we’re safe at least for another month,” said Richard Yetsenga, head of research at ANZ. “Our view overall still is the Fed won’t do anything, but clearly we’ve been above target on the Fed’s preferred inflation measure for five years,” he added. “There is some risk that the Fed just runs out of patience.” The diminished risk of a hike this month should allow investors to focus on the looming earnings season, where the AI boom is set to deliver bumper tech profits. This week has just Delta Air Lines and PepsiCo as tasters, though Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), opens new tab is set to make a splash on Tuesday as analysts expect an 18-fold increase in profits. Profit bonanza for chipmakers The world’s largest memory chipmaker by sales is likely to flag an operating profit of 86 ⁠trillion…