Asian equities dropped as attacks on key energy infrastructure in the Middle East drove oil prices higher, fueling investor concern that an escalating war will add to inflation pressures. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was down more than 2%, snapping a three-day advance, as investors trimmed risk. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slumped 2.8%, with traders also on alert for the yen’s potential breach of 160 against the dollar. US equity futures edged higher after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both fell 1.4% on Wednesday. Brent crude traded around $112 per barrel as strikes between Iran and Israel on critical energy facilities — which also caused extensive damage to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export plant in Qatar — raised concerns of a more lasting impact from the conflict. Benchmark oil prices are surging as the Middle East conflict disrupts global trade flows and widens crude spreads. Nomura International’s Julia Wang discusses the specific risks facing Asian economies. Oil’s surge already has global central bankers fretting about price pressures. The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday, following a hold by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, with both signaling the Middle East conflict had clouded the policy outlook. The gauge of Asian stocks is down nearly 8% in March, trailing peers in the US and Europe. Iran carried out attacks on the LNG site in Qatar, one of several energy assets it pledged to target following strikes on the Islamic Republic’s giant South Pars gas field. President Donald Trump said the US didn’t know about Israel’s assault on the field, but threatened to “blow up the entirety” of the deposit with US forces if Qatari assets get hit further. He said earlier this week that targeting oil infrastructure on Iran’s main export hub, Kharg Island, remains on the table following earlier bombing of military targets there. Fed officials continue to expect one rate cut this year though Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that to resume lowering rates, they needed to see progress in reducing inflation. “If we don’t see that progress, then we won’t see the rate cut,” Powell said in remarks to reporters after the Fed decision. His comments prompted traders to scale back expectations for rate cuts, reinforcing a higher-for-longer rate outlook amid volatility in energy markets. They are now pricing in only about 15 basis points worth of Fed easing this year, less than one full quarter-point cut. In economic forecasts released with their decision, Fed officials raised their outlook for inflation in 2026 to 2.7% from 2.4%. Notably, they saw the core measure — which excludes volatile food and energy categories — also rising to 2.7%. Treasuries sold off across the curve on Wednesday, with the two-year yield jumping about 10 basis points. It rose another three basis points to 3.80% on Thursday. Elsewhere in markets, the Philippine peso weakened past the key 60-per-dollar level as elevated oil prices weighed on the country’s economic outlook. A broader gauge of the greenback was down 0.1% after rising 0.5% on Wednesday. Gold prices steadied after tumbling nearly 4% in the previous session. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda will hold a press briefing later Thursday, usually convened at 3:30 p.m. Tokyo time, to elaborate on the decision and outline his view on the path for interest rates. US After Hours MU -3.2% lower on earnings; ELA +15.4%, DLO +7.9%, and FIVE +6.1% higher on earnings; HTFL -6.6%, PICS -6.2%, RCAT -2.6% lower on earnings.
Nikkei -3.38% Hang Seng -1.89% CSI -1.70% Shanghai -1.49% Shenzen -2.44%
Eur$ 1.1469 CNH 6.9034 CNY 6.9002 JPY 159.67 GBP 1.3271 CHF 0.7927 RUB 83.8861 TRY 44.3214 WTI$ 97.40 +1.12% Gold 4,853 -0.78% BTC 70,855 -0.53% ETH 2,192 +0.24%
S&P -0.10% Nasdaq -0.20% EuroStoxx -1.74% FTSE -0.96% Dax -1.88% SMI -1.18%
Macro :
- Iran War May Delay Deal Timelines, Not Derail M&A, McMaster Says
- Goldman Says Don’t Wait For Perfect Time in M&A: Financials Wrap
- Trump Seeks De-Escalation After Iran, Israel Strike Gas Hubs
Keep an eye on :
Keep an eye on :
- 1U1 GY : 1&1 Sees 2026 Ebitda About EU800M, Est. EU686.4M
- AKSO NO : Aker Solutions Proposes NOK5.00 Extraordinary Dividend
- ALGN US : Elliott Said to Build Stake in Invisalign-Maker Align Technology
- ALO FP : Alstom Wins $437 Million Services and Refurbishment Contracts
- AZN LN : AstraZeneca Plans Shanghai Cell Therapy Hub for Production, R&D
- BEN FP : Beneteau FY Ebitda EU35.5M, Est. EU48.7M
- BA/ LN : Air Astana Holder BAE Systems Offers 6.11m GDRs at $5.10/Share
- BA/ LN : Air Astana Holder BAE Systems Offers 6.11m GDRs at $5.10/Share
- BHG SS : BHG Group Targets 10–15% Annual Growth Over Business Cycle
- BIM FP : Biomérieux Gets IVDR CE‐Marking for Respiratory Infection Tests
- CRI FP : Compagnie Chargeurs FY Ebitda EU52.3M Vs. EU65M Y/y
- CTT PL : CTT FY Net Income EU50.7M Vs. EU45.5M Y/y
- DAE SW : Dätwyler: Pema Holding détient une part de 78,116%
- DEEZR FP : Deezer FY Adjusted Ebitda Beats Estimates - FT : French music streamer Deezer battles deluge of AI fraud
- DOCM SW : DocMorris Sees 2026 Adjusted Ebitda Loss CHF10M to CHF25M
- DD US : Dupont Plans Reverse Stock Split, to Set Ratio Later
- EQT SS : EQT-Backed Saur Said to Weigh Sale of Municipal Water Business
- EQNR NO : Equinor to Split Marketing, Midstream and Processing Area in Two
- XOM US : Oil Giants Bid $163 Million in Trump’s Record Alaska Lease Sale
- FAST NA : Fastned Reports FY Adj EBITDA of EUR 43.6 Million
- FYB GY : Formycon Postpones ‘25 Financial Statements Due To System Change
- IDR SM : Spanish Government Signals It Wants Indra’s Chairman Removed
- IOS GY : IONOS Group SE Maintains 2026 Adjusted Ebitda Margin Forecast
- IVG IM : Iveco Transfers Defense Units to Leonardo, Sets Dividend
- JMT PL : J. Martins 4Q Ebitda Beats Estimates
- LXS GY : Lanxess Sees 2026 Adj. Ebitda EU450M to EU550M, Est. EU517.7M
- LNZ AV : Lenzing FY Ebitda Misses Estimates
- LOGN SW : Logitech’s Board OKs New $1.4b Share Buyback Program
- MU US : Micron 3Q Adjusted Revenue Forecast Beats Estimates --> -6%
- NEM GY : Nemetschek Sees 2026 Ebitda Margin 32% to 33%, Est. 32.5%
- NESN SW : Synlait, Nestlé Renew Partnership to Reduce Emissions
- NXST US : California AG Files Suit Seeking to Block Nexstar-Tegna Merger
- NVDA US : Musk: SpaceX AI, Tesla to Continue Nvidia Chip Orders at Scale
- RAA GY : Rational 4Q Ebit Beats Estimates, Rational Sees 2026 Ebit Margin 25% to 26%, Est. 26.3%
- TPE GY : PVA TePla FY Outlook Below Consensus
- RATOB SS : Ratos Discontinues Business Area Structure, Announces Targets
- RKLB US : Rocket Lab Jumps on $190m Hypersonic Flight Contract
- SAF FP : Australian GPS-Alternative Unicorn Raises $110 Million for Expansion - WSJ
- SBO AV : SBO AG FY Net Income Misses Estimates
- SFQ GY : SAF-Holland SE Sees 2026 Sales EU1.70B to EU1.85B, Est. EU1.82B
- GLE FP : SocGen Completes €1.46B Share Buyback Program Announced Feb. 6
- SGL GY : SGL Sees 2026 Adjusted Ebitda EU110M to EU130M, Est. EU120.7M
- SWMR US : Tiny AI Drone Technology Company Surges 1,200% in Two Days
- SQN SW : Swissquote 2026 Pretax Profit Forecast Misses Estimates
- TGNA US : California AG Files Suit Seeking to Block Nexstar-Tegna Merger
- TTE FP : TotalEnergies to Raise Age Limits for Chairman and CEO Roles
- TIT IM : Telecom Italia, Fastweb + Vodafone in Pact for 5G Towers
- ULVR LN : Unilever, Kraft Heinz Held Talks Over Food Merger: FT
- UTDI GY : United Internet 2026 Sales Forecast Misses Estimates
- VOD LN : Telecom Italia, Fastweb + Vodafone in Pact for 5G Towers
- VNA GY : Vonovia FY Adjusted Ebitda Meets Estimates
- VOS GY : Vossloh FY Dividend per Share Misses Estimates