economy
Middle East Tensions Rattle Asia Markets After Fresh U.S. Strikes in Iran
Asia-Pacific markets fell Thursday while oil prices surged after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran heightened fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
TL;DR
- Asia-Pacific markets fell on Thursday due to escalating Middle East tensions after new U.S. strikes in Iran.
- Kuwait activated its air defenses in response to 'hostile missile and drone threats'.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have struck a U.S. air base.
- Oil futures, including West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, extended early gains.
- Major Asian indexes such as South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225, and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 experienced declines.
- China's CSI 300 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng also dropped, while India's markets saw marginal losses.
- U.S. stock futures showed slight gains after mixed performance in Wednesday's regular session, where the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at records.