Asia shares shaky as oil climbs, earnings loom

SYDNEY, July 20 : Asian share markets slipped 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 above $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. Just a handful of ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and one was reported to be on fire."The longer the Strait remains closed and the war escalates the greater the risk that oil prices will have to rise to around $150/barrel to bring demand down to match the hit to supply," said Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy at fund manager AMP. "This i