Energy firms rallied on Wednesday after a surge in oil prices but most Asian markets fluctuated as trade war fears torment investors.

Both main crude contracts piled higher after the State Department warned US allies they would be hit with sanctions if they did not halt Iran oil purchases by November 4.

Analysts said that while the announcement was not unexpected, the mere confirmation of the fact was enough to push investors into buying mode.

The commodity has enjoyed a healthy run since the weekend, when OPEC and Russia agreed to a moderate lift in their 18-month-old output ceiling.

Unrest in producer Libya was also providing support.

The higher oil prices -- Brent added more than two percent and WTI more than three percent Tuesday -- lifted energy firms. CNOOC soared more than five percent in Hong Kong while PetroChina added almost two percent. Woodside Petroleum in Sydney added 1.5 percent was more than two percent up.

However, trade tensions continue to loom large, keeping investors on edge awaiting the next developments.

Tokyo ended the morning session 0.4 percent lower, while Hong Kong dipped 0.1 percent and Seoul edged lower. But Shanghai added 0.1 percent, as did Sydney and Singapore.

Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta were also higher.

Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA, said Donald Trump's attack on Harley-Davidson indicated he is not ready to back down on his hardline protectionist America first agenda.

- 'No one is safe' -

The president on Tuesday hit out at the motorbike maker after it said it was planning to shift some manufacturing overseas because of European Union tariffs put in place as retaliation for US duties.

He said the bikes should "never" be built outside the United States, and tweeted: "Harley must know that they won't be able to sell back into US without paying a big tax!"

In a commentary, Innes said: "The only thing I can think of that is more iconic Americana than apple pie is Harley-Davidson.

"So, after the president's recent twitter tirade directed at the iconic motorcycle manufacturer, it cements the view that, friend or foe, no one is safe from the wrath of the US administration's America First trade policy."

He added that, while the US economy remains in rude health, which should prode equities support, "investors are caught between a hammer and anvil on escalating trade wars".

On currency markets, the trade uncertainty is pushing the dollar up against most high-yielding units owing to its safe haven status, though it weakened against the yen, euro and pound.

The Chinese yuan also fell and is coming under increasing pressure owing to concerns about the impact of a trade war on the world's number two economy, which is also showing signs of weakness.

The People's Bank of China at the weekend lowered lenders' reserve requirements in a bid to free up cash but while it was welcomed it added to the yuan's weakness and fuelled a sense of unease in the economic outlook.

Markets are keeping an eye on US durable goods orders later Wednesday "with some interest here in whether the concerns being flagged by various Fed officials about trade worries leading to deferred investment and hiring decisions are showing up in orders," Ray Attrill, head of forex strategy at National Australia Bank, said.

- Key figures around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 22,251.36 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.1 percent at 28,847.66

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 2,848.52

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1655 from $1.1600 at 2100 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3230 from $1.3200

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 109.96 yen from 110.08 yen

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 25 cents at $70.78

Oil - Brent Crude: UP 39 cents at $76.70 per barrel

New York - Dow Jones: UP 0.1 percent at 24,283.11 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,537.92 (close)

dan/mtp

HARLEY-DAVIDSON

NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK

BANK OF CHINA

CNOOC

PETROCHINA

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