, May 20 -- Asian stock markets mostly declined on Wednesday as rising bond yields and concerns over prolonged inflation linked to the Iran war continued to pressure investors and weaken the technology-driven market rally.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1.2 percent to 59,804.41, while the yield on the country's 10-year government bond remained near its highest level since 1997 at just under 2.8 percent. The US dollar slipped slightly against the Japanese yen, trading at 158.92 yen.

Chinese markets also ended lower, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index losing 0.7 percent to 25,607.67 and the Shanghai Composite Index declining 0.3 percent to 4,156.47.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.3 percent, while South Korea's Kospi lost 0.9 percent ...