Asian shares were mixed on Friday as oil prices eased from sharp recent gains driven by the intensifying war between Iran and Israel. Brent crude fell to around $107 a barrel after briefly surging near $119 as attacks on energy facilities escalated. Prices pulled back after Israel's prime minister signaled he would hold off further strikes on Iran's gas field at the request of the United States president.

The conflict, now in its third week, has fueled concerns about global energy supplies and rising inflation, particularly with the vital Strait of Hormuz largely closed. The United States treasury secretary suggested that sanctions on Iranian oil transported by sea could potentially be lifted to help calm prices. The retreat in oil helped stabilize some markets across Asia, though trading was uneven.

South Korea's main index rose, while markets in Hong Kong and Australia declined and Shanghai edged higher. Wall Street had closed modestly lower on Thursday, with major indexes slipping. Meanwhile, gold and silver rebounded, and the United States dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen as investors continued to monitor geopolitical and inflation risks.