Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 3.91%, Shanghai Composite down 1.43%, Hang Seng down 2.85% ASX down 2.02%
- Commodities : Gold at $5,179.66 (1.07%) Silver at $85.093 (1.95%), Brent Oil at $82.60 (1.46%), WTI Oil at $75.36 (1.07%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.065, UK 10-year yield at 4.4640, Germany 10-year yield at 2.7752
News & Data:
- (EUR) Core CPI Flash Estimate y/y 2.4% to 2.2% expected
Markets Update:
Asian stock markets declined sharply on Wednesday following weak global cues, as investors grew increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has now entered its fifth day. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the war could last four to five weeks, or even longer. The conflict has triggered a surge in crude oil prices, raising fears of renewed inflationary pressure. Supply worries intensified after attacks on oil refineries, including Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura facility, and Iran’s reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil shipping route. Trump said the U.S. Navy may escort oil tankers through the strait if necessary.
Australian stocks were notably lower, with the S&P/ASX 200 falling nearly 1.9 percent to around 8,908, led by losses in mining, financial and gold stocks. Major miners such as BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue all declined, while banks including ANZ, Westpac and Commonwealth Bank also slipped. Despite market weakness, economic data showed Australia’s GDP grew 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, beating expectations, with annual growth at 2.6 percent.
Japanese markets also dropped significantly, with the Nikkei 225 plunging nearly 3.9 percent to around 54,090. Technology and banking stocks led the decline, with heavy losses in companies such as SoftBank, Tokyo Electron and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial.
Elsewhere in Asia, markets in South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong also fell sharply. Meanwhile, on Wall Street, the Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 all closed lower as rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions weighed on investor sentiment.
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