Asia shares hesitant as oil climbs, earnings loom

SYDNEY, July 20 : Asian share markets were hesitant on Monday as the escalating conflict in the Gulf lifted oil prices and fanned fears of inflation, while a packed week of major tech earnings will further test investor faith in the AI trade.Brent crude climbed 3 per cent to cross $90 a barrel for the first time in more than a month as the U.S. military started a ninth straight day of attacks against Iran, which in turn struck targets across the region.The jump in fuel costs has revived worries about inflation even as U.S. consumer price data surprised on the downside last week, leading futures markets to price in 29 basis points of Federal Reserve rate hikes by year-end. "Our forecast is for a more gradual turn toward a Fed hike in 2027, but the balance of risks is shifting in the directi