Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific.

Asian equities rose at the open after optimism that more tankers would be able to pass through the crucial Strait of Hormuz lifted gauges on Wall Street. Risk appetite was also boosted by expectations that major economies could release petroleum reserves to offset potential supply disruptions, after President Donald Trump renewed calls for allies to help safeguard the Strait of Hormuz. Threats to flows through the vital shipping lane continued to fan inflation worries as investors brace for a slate of central-bank meetings this week. We speak to Paul Dobson, Executive Editor for Asia Markets. 

Plus - President Donald Trump requested a delay to his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for about a month, saying it was important for him to remain in Washington to oversee the Iran war. "We're working on that right now. We're speaking to China. I'd love to, but because of the war, I want to be here," Trump said Monday during a White House event when asked about potentially rescheduling the high-profile summit. The meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economies is currently set to begin later this month. We heard from Mara Rudman, Practitioner Senior Fellow at University of Virginia's Miller Center. She spoke to Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts and Shery Ahn.