United News of Bangladesh

Asian stock markets fell on Thursday as tensions rose following fresh US military strikes on Iran, which Washington described as defensive actions. At the same time, oil prices climbed by more than $2 per barrel after dropping sharply in the previous session, while US futures also edged lower. US officials said Central Command forces shot down four Iranian attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz. They also struck a drone control facility in Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch another drone. These strikes came after earlier military actions earlier in the week. US President Donald Trump said Iran is “negotiating on fumes” and insisted that upcoming US elections would not influence his approach to ending the ongoing conflict, now in its third month. Asian markets under pressure In early trading, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.4%, while South Korea’s Kospi also dropped 0.4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 1.4%, and China’s Shanghai Composite edged up slightly by 0.1%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1.4%, while Taiwan’s main index also recorded losses. Analysts said uncertainty around US–Iran negotiations and the fragile ceasefire continued to weigh on investor confidence. “Markets remain cautious as it is still unclear whether a lasting deal can be reached,” said Tan Boon Heng of Mizuho Bank. He added that while both sides appear to avoid escalating tensions publicly, major disagreements remain unresolved. Oil prices rebound Oil prices, which had dropped sharply earlier in the week, rose again on renewed concerns over supply risks in the Middle East. Brent crude gained more than $2 to around $94 per barrel in early trading, while US crude also moved higher. Earlier, oil had fallen after hopes that a ceasefire between the US and Iran might hold, easing fears over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a key global oil shipping route. Wall Street at record highs On Wednesday, US stock markets had closed slightly higher, with all three major indexes — the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq — reaching record levels. Shares of airlines and cruise companies rose as falling oil prices earlier in the week boosted expectations of lower fuel costs. Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and inflation concerns, strong corporate earnings have helped support market gains. Currency movements In currency trading, the US dollar held steady against the Japanese yen, while the euro slipped slightly.

Asian stock markets closed mixed on Thursday, with Chinese shares falling as investors closely watched the outcome of U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump and Xi met at the Great Hall of the People to discuss bilateral relations and Taiwan, but analysts said they did not expect any major breakthroughs. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1% to 62,654.05 after briefly hitting a new intraday record above 63,700, supported by strong corporate earnings. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.8% to a record close of 7,981.41, driven by strong gains in technology stocks amid continued enthusiasm over artificial intelligence. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 1.5% to 4,177.92, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged up 0.1% to 26,426.06. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.1% to 8,640.70. Taiwan’s Taiex rose 0.9%, and India’s Sensex advanced 1%. Oil prices moved higher as the conflict in Iran entered its third month with no clear end in sight, raising concerns over global energy supplies. Some investors hoped the Trump-Xi meeting could help ease tensions, after U.S. officials said Beijing may use its economic ties with Tehran to encourage Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil exports. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 0.3% to $105.95 per barrel. Before the Iran conflict began in late February, Brent was trading at around $70 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude gained 0.4% to $101.44 per barrel. The International Energy Agency said on Wednesday that supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz were reducing global oil inventories at a record pace. Investors were also monitoring developments involving Nvidia, as its CEO Jensen Huang joined Trump’s delegation to China along with Elon Musk of Tesla and Tim Cook of Apple. On Wall Street, technology shares led gains overnight. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to a record 7,444.25. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2% to an all-time high of 26,402.34, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1% to 49,693.20. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note eased to 4.46% from 4.47%, but remained well above the level seen before the Iran conflict began. A report released Wednesday showed U.S. wholesale prices increased sharply in April, largely due to higher energy costs. The U.S. Senate also confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, replacing Jerome Powell, who had faced criticism from Trump for not cutting interest rates more aggressively. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose slightly to 157.92 Japanese yen from 157.86 yen. The euro was unchanged at $1.1711.

Asian stock markets were mixed on Wednesday as excitement over artificial intelligence-related shares eased and concerns over the ongoing conflict involving Iran continued to weigh on investor sentiment. Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.8 percent in afternoon trading, while Kospi in South Korea jumped 2.7 percent, recovering from earlier losses linked to uncertainty over possible government measures involving AI company profits. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5 percent. Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong was little changed, while Shanghai Composite Index in China gained 0.6 percent. Market analysts said strong corporate earnings and continued interest in AI stocks are still supporting markets, but rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions are making investors more cautious. Oil prices slipped in early trading but remained far higher than before the conflict in the Middle East intensified. Analysts said the disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has added to concerns about global energy supplies. On Wall Street overnight, the S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent from its record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7 percent. Technology and chip stocks led the decline. Intel fell 6.8 percent, while Micron Technology lost 3.6 percent. In the bond market, U.S. Treasury yields rose, reflecting expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged to control inflation. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar strengthened slightly against the Japanese yen, while the euro edged lower against the dollar. Investors are now watching developments in the Middle East and signals from central banks for clues about the direction of global markets.

Asian stock markets showed mixed performance on Monday, while oil prices jumped sharply as uncertainty continued over talks to end tensions involving Iran. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 hit a new record, rising 1.4% to close at 60,481.21 after touching an intraday high. South Korea’s Kospi also gained 2%. However, markets in Hong Kong and mainland China were less upbeat. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.3%, while the Shanghai Composite edged up slightly. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3%. Taiwan’s Taiex jumped 1.8%, supported by strong demand for technology stocks driven by the growth of artificial intelligence. India’s Sensex also rose 0.4%. Oil prices surged as negotiations related to Iran faced setbacks. The White House canceled plans to send officials for further talks, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying discussions could continue remotely instead. Brent crude increased by $2 to $101.13 per barrel, while U.S. crude rose to $96.24. Investors are also watching closely as major central banks, including the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan and Bank of England, prepare to announce interest rate decisions this week. On Wall Street, markets ended last week on a strong note. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to a record close, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.6% to a new high, helped by gains in technology shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped slightly. A survey by the University of Michigan showed consumer confidence weakened in April, though it improved slightly after a ceasefire in the Iran conflict was announced earlier. Despite hopes for stability, tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns in global markets. Meanwhile, tech giant Intel saw its shares surge after strong earnings, driven by rising demand for AI-related products. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar weakened slightly against the Japanese yen, while the euro gained ground.

Asian stock markets showed mixed results on Tuesday amid light Lunar New Year trading, following a decline in U.S. tech stocks, reports AP. This drop occurred after a Chinese competitor entered the AI market, casting doubt on the recent tech frenzy. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.5% to 38,959.05, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 remained relatively stable, edging down 0.1% to 8,399.10. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose slightly by 0.1% to 20,225.11. Other markets, including South Korea and Shanghai, were closed for holidays. Indices rise in early trading in stock markets In Japan, SoftBank Group’s stock fell another 6%, Hitachi dropped 7%, but Fujitsu and Sony saw recoveries. Tokyo Electron, a chip maker, declined by 5.5%. Fuji Media Holdings, involved in a scandal, gained 1% following an extensive press conference where executives took responsibility, and two resigned. The company’s stock has fluctuated due to reports linking an anchorwoman to a scandal with a male Japanese celebrity, who later retired. In the U.S., the S&P 500 dropped 1.5% to 6,012.28, mainly due to a 16.9% fall in Nvidia’s stock. Other major tech companies also lost value, with the Nasdaq falling 3.1% to 19,341.83, its worst loss in over a month. The Dow Jones rose 0.7% to 44,713.58, and most U.S. stocks performed better, but tech-heavy index funds, such as the S&P 500, were hit hard due to the influence of major tech companies. The source of the market turbulence was a Chinese AI firm, DeepSeek, which unveiled a language model that could rival U.S. companies at potentially a lower cost. DeepSeek's app quickly topped the Apple App Store’s free apps chart, despite U.S. restrictions on Chinese access to top AI chips. However, analysts remain uncertain about how the model was developed due to these restrictions. DeepSeek's entry into the market has caused significant disruption, challenging the dominance of AI-related companies that have flourished in recent years. Nvidia, for instance, saw its stock soar from under $20 to over $140 in under two years. A select group of seven major companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla, dominate the S&P 500, with these companies accounting for over half of the index’s returns last year. Tech stocks slide as Chinese rival threatens AI industry; Nvidia falls 17%  Investors are also awaiting earnings reports later this week from Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Tesla. In commodity markets, U.S. crude rose by 36 cents to $73.53 per barrel, and Brent crude gained 42 cents to $77.50. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar strengthened to 155.71 yen from 154.51, while the euro dropped to $1.0441 from $1.0493.

Markets were mixed in Asia on Monday, with Japan's benchmark slipping 0.8% after the government reported the economy contracted 6.3% in annual terms in the last quarter. China's shares got a boost after the central bank stepped in to help the economy with a rate cut, extra buying of securities and tax cuts.

Asian shares have advanced after the Dow Jones Industrial Average and other benchmarks closed at record highs.