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 said to be a 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.
South Korea’s Kospi fell 1.24%, but the small-cap Kosdaq rose more than 2.61% as trading resumed after the holiday.
Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average fell by 1.77% after hitting a record high earlier in the day, while the TOPIX fell by 1.33%. Softbank Group Shares fell more than 11.04% on news that it has sold a 3.25% stake in Indian eyewear company Lenskart Solutions in a block deal.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.30%.
Mainland China’s CSI300 index fell by 0.58%, and Hong Kong’s CSI300 index fell by 0.58%. hansen It fell by 1.49%.
indian nifty 50 It fell 0.30%, while the BSE Sensex fell 0.33%.
