Russian Envoy Dmitriev Heads to US for Ukraine Talks 
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European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
U.S. Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Oil, Treasury Yields Surge 
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Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
Mexico-US Trade Talks Delayed to October as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Oil Prices Ease as Iran Tensions Clash With Diplomacy Hopes 
Asian Stocks Fall as Surging Bond Yields Rattle Markets 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High 
Asian Stocks Fall as Bond Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
Japan Private-Sector Growth Slows as Domestic Demand Weakens 
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Asian stock markets declined on Thursday as renewed U.S. military strikes on Iran weakened investor confidence and raised concerns over escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The latest attacks reduced hopes for a near-term peace agreement, while traders also remained cautious ahead of the release of key U.S. inflation data later in the day.
Despite Wall Street ending at record highs overnight on optimism surrounding easing tensions and lower oil prices, sentiment across Asian markets turned negative after reports confirmed fresh U.S. strikes on Iran on Wednesday. The attacks marked the second round of military action this week and came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected reports suggesting Iran and Oman would jointly oversee shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz under a possible peace arrangement.
Oil prices rebounded sharply following the strikes, reversing part of the previous session’s losses. Brent crude climbed close to $97 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose above $90 per barrel. Rising energy prices increased concerns that inflationary pressures could persist globally.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.1% after reaching record highs in the previous session, while the broader TOPIX index edged 0.2% lower. South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 1.1% as semiconductor and AI-related stocks faced profit-taking after recent gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell nearly 2%, pressured by weakness in major technology shares.
China’s Shanghai Composite lost 0.4%, and the CSI 300 index declined 1.1%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.1%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.7%. India’s Nifty 50 futures also traded lower.
Investors are now closely watching the upcoming U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge. Markets fear that continued geopolitical instability and rising oil prices could complicate the Fed’s monetary policy outlook and potentially increase the chances of another interest rate hike later this year.
