New Delhi, May 4 -- Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Monday after U.S. stocks set more records, powered by strong profits for major companies.

U.S. futures were mixed and oil prices slipped slightly after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would help ships leave the Strait of Hormuz, starting on Monday. Iran rejected the plan, but Trump also said talks with Iran could lead to positive outcomes.

The price of a barrel of U.S. benchmark crude fell 77 cents to $101.17 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gave up 67 cents to $107.50 a barrel.

Much hinges on progress toward ending the war with Iran and unlocking the bottleneck through the Strait of Hormuz.

The oil market "remains the fulcrum, with hundreds of tanker...