Asian equities rose Wednesday as strong U.S. technology earnings supported sentiment, though gains were tempered by firmer oil prices and caution ahead of a key U.S. inflation report. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index added 0.4%, led by a 2.8% jump in South Korea's Kospi, after CoreWeave surged 16% in extended trading on stronger-than-expected sales growth and Super Micro Computer rose 7.6% after projecting revenue above Wall Street estimates. Broader markets were mixed, with Japan's Topix up 0.4%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 down 0.5%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index off 0.8% and the Shanghai Composite little changed. Brent crude rose 0.8% to $89.60 a barrel for a sixth straight gain as negotiations involving the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz remained deadlocked, reversing earlier optimism that the sides were close to an arrangement. President Donald Trump added uncertainty by demanding Iran compensate the United States for damages incurred during the conflict, while Tehran renewed its own call for reparations. Investors also watched the yen near 159.33 per dollar, close to the 160 level that previously prompted intervention by Japanese authorities. Treasuries were steady with the 10-year yield at 4.69%, and gold traded around $4,390 an ounce as demand for geopolitical hedges persisted. Focus now turns to the July U.S. consumer price index, where economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect a 0.1% month-over-month increase after a 0.4% decline in the prior month, a reading seen as pivotal for expectations around the Federal Reserve's next move after three Federal Open Market Committee officials dissented in July in favor of raising rates.