Escalating Middle East conflict drives oil prices higher while regional equities show mixed performance amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Asian equities displayed mixed trading patterns Thursday as investors assessed rising tensions in the Middle East after fresh U.S. military strikes and Iran’s retaliatory threats. The geopolitical escalation sent Brent Crude above $92 per barrel, amplifying concerns over energy supply disruptions.
Prior to the latest developments, regional markets had shown resilience, with some indices posting modest gains earlier in the week. Analysts had expected a cautious session ahead of key economic data releases, but the overnight geopolitical flare-up shifted focus to risk assets.
U.S. equity futures attempted to recover from early losses, though sentiment remained fragile as traders weighed the potential for further conflict-driven volatility in commodity markets.