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Asian Equities · Geopolitics · Market Volatility · Oil Prices
Asian markets experienced a significant rebound, and oil prices plunged following U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration that the Middle East conflict could be "over soon." MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan surged 2.6%, with Japan's Nikkei 225 jumping 3.6% and South Korea's Kospi soaring 6.4%, prompting a trading curb.
Conversely, Brent crude futures fell as much as 10% to below $90 per barrel. This optimism contrasted sharply with defiance from Iran, where hardliners rallied behind new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and warned of increased missile strikes.
The competing signals led to a volatile Monday session, with oil initially spiking and Wall Street stocks tumbling before rebounding. U.S. equity futures remained muted, down 0.2%.
In fixed income, U.S. 10-year Treasury yields fell 2.3 basis points to 4.109%, as traders pushed back Federal Reserve rate cut expectations to July. Analysts caution that while rhetoric has softened, underlying inflation impulses and geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz, remain significant concerns for investors.
French Bond Yields Swing on Middle East Uncertainty
