Stocks rise, dollar at six-week high as focus remains on US-Iran talks

Asian stocks rose on Friday while the U.S. dollar sat near six- week ​highs and oil prices were whipsawed as investors held on to hopes of a breakthrough in ‌US-Iran peace talks although both sides remained at odds over key issues. The worry for investors remains the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for the world’s energy supplies, that has sent oil prices soaring and rewired the global interest rate outlook because ​of inflationary concerns. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “some good signs” in talks to end ​the nearly three month old war in the Middle East but differences remain over Tehran’s ⁠uranium stockpile and controls over the waterway.