#globaleconomy
đ Global Market Highlights
Major markets in Asia-Pacific and Europe posted solid losses:
Japanâs Nikkei 225 dropped around 1%, while Hong Kongâs Hang Seng plunged roughly **2%** .
In Europe, DAX slipped about 0.9%, CACâŻ40 lost 0.8â1.1%, and the FTSE 100 fell ~0.3â0.5% .
Gulf markets (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi) also declined on early trading jitters .
U.S. markets remain closed for Juneteenth, but futures fell ~0.4â0.9% .
#OIL prices spiked:
Brent crude surged above $75â78/barrel, the highest since January, amid supply fears .
This jump pressured travel and leisure stocks while giving energy stocks a brief lift .
Safe-haven assets were in demand:
Gold and the U.S. dollar strengthened .
1. Escalating IsraelâIran conflict:
Reports of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, followed by Iranian missile strikes, fueled fears of regional escalation and potential global oil disruption .
2. Speculation of U.S. intervention:
Rumors suggesting U.S. military involvement heightened geopolitical risk perceptions .
3. Monetary policy uncertainty:
Despite Fed holding rates steady, concerns over tariff-inflation and diverging central bank actions (with Norway and Switzerland cutting rates, UK holding steady) added to market angst .
4. Elevated volatility:
Volatility indexes spiked, with Europeâs VSTOXX reaching its highest since late May .