Fuyang, China – March 23, 2026 – Stock investors observe stock market conditions at a stock exchange in Fuyang, Anhui Province, China, on March 23, 2026. (Photo credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photo | Future Publishing | Getty Images
Asia-Pacific markets fell on Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street, as tensions between Iran and the United States sent oil prices soaring and fueled energy and inflation concerns.
Kuwait International Airport was attacked by Iran early Wednesday morning. The attack comes a day after U.S. Central Command announced it had destroyed multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones and launched a “self-defense strike” on Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf. This was in response to an “attempted attack” by the Iranian government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNBC in an exclusive interview that Israel and the United States are ready to attack Iran again if necessary.
“Israel is ready, the US military is ready, and I think Iran should consider that. I think they are, but they are playing with fire,” Netanyahu said.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose more than 2% to close at $96.02 on Wednesday, while international benchmark Brent crude rose nearly 2% to settle at $97.81 per barrel. Futures were down about 0.8% on Thursday.
South Korea’s Kospi ended trading 1.84% lower at 8,639.41 on Thursday, while the small-cap Kosdaq rose more than 2.31% to 1,049.73 as trading resumed after the holiday.
Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average fell 1.36% to 67,470.69 after hitting a record high earlier in the day, while the TOPIX fell 1.11% to 3,951.85. Softbank Group The stock fell more than 10%, amid broader declines in Asian tech stocks.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index fell 1.88% to 8,686.10.
Mainland China’s CSI 300 index fell 0.69% to 4,904.75. hansen The stock fell 1.31% in the last hour of afternoon trading.
indian nifty 50 BSE Sensex was flat but rose marginally.
