Asian shares are mostly lower as investors focus on the Iran war's impact on energy supplies

Asian shares are mostly lower and oil prices have surged higher as investors eye risks to the region's energy supply because of the Iran war. Shares in South Korea sank 4.8% as markets reopened after a holiday on Monday. Benchmark U.S. crude oil rose 77 cents to $72.00 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added $1.10 to $78.84 a barrel. Resource-poor countries in Asia could be especially hit by the lack of access to the Strait of Hormuz because of the war. Japan relies on oil from that region for much of its oil and natural gas needs. On Wall Street, share prices pared their earlier losses to finish moderately higher.