Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 1.05%, Shanghai Composite down 0.17% Hang Seng down 1.20% ASX down 0.59%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,735.15 (-1.08%) Silver at $74.328 (-2.80%), Brent Oil at $102.15 (7.32%), WTI Oil at $104.85 (8.55%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.347, UK 10-year yield at 4.8390, Germany 10-year yield at 3.0481
News & Data:
- (USD) Core CPI m/m 0.2% to 0.3% expected
- (USD) CPI m/m 0.9% to 1.0% expected
- (USD) CPI y/y 3.3% to 3.4% expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets opened lower on Monday as investors assessed rising tensions after the United States moved toward a naval blockade of Iran’s ports, following unsuccessful negotiations between Washington and Tehran over the weekend. The failure of talks in Islamabad renewed fears that the conflict between the U.S. and Iran could persist longer than expected, increasing uncertainty across global markets and putting additional pressure on already fragile economies.
Oil prices reacted sharply to the developments, climbing significantly after the talks ended without progress. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 7.93% to $104.23 per barrel late Sunday evening, while Brent crude advanced 6.71% to $101.59 per barrel, reflecting concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supply.
Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering resuming airstrikes on Iran. Last week, he had agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire in exchange for Tehran allowing ships to move safely through the Strait of Hormuz, after previously warning of possible attacks on major Iranian infrastructure.
Regional markets reflected the cautious sentiment. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.72% and the Topix slipped 0.20%. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.73%, though the Kosdaq recovered to rise 0.42%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.38%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.71%. U.S. futures also weakened overnight, signaling broader investor concern.
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