Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 0.16%, Shanghai Composite up 0.94% Hang Seng down 0.31% ASX down 0.60%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,684.31 (0.98%) Silver at $81.115 (0.35%), Brent Oil at $105.83 (4.47%), WTI Oil at $100.15 (4.97%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.393, UK 10-year yield at 4.9170, Germany 10-year yield at 3.0047
News & Data:
- (USD) Non-Farm Employment Change 109K to 118K expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday as rising oil prices and escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran weighed on investor sentiment. South Korea’s Kospi surged to a fresh record at the open, outperforming regional peers despite concerns over a prolonged Middle East conflict.
Investor worries intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the war. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Tehran’s counteroffer called for a ceasefire across all fronts and the removal of sanctions. Trump, however, dismissed the proposal as “totally unacceptable” in a Truth Social post.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned that the conflict was “not over,” emphasizing ongoing efforts by the U.S. and Israel to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The situation has further disrupted global energy markets, especially after Iran reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.
Oil prices jumped sharply, with West Texas Intermediate crude rising 3.94% to $99.18 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed 3.49% to $104.83.
South Korea’s Kospi gained 4.70%, boosted by a 10.74% rally in SK Hynix. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 traded slightly lower, Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.83%, China’s CSI 300 rose 0.58%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.48%.
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