📈 Global Market Selloff Hits Asia Amid Escalating US-Iran Conflict

Renewed U.S. airstrikes on Iran have triggered broad declines across Asian equities, driven by surging energy costs and spiking global bond yields. • Market Impact: - MSCI Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan): Tumbled 1.5% - South Korea (KOSPI): Dropped over 3% - Japan (Nikkei 225): Down 2.6% - Wall Street Overnight: S&P 500 down 0.7%, Nasdaq fell 1.0% • Commodities & Energy: - Brent Crude: Rose 1.3% to US$ 95.91 per barrel (5-week high) following threats of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. High energy prices pose import cost risks for energy-dependent economies like Sri Lanka. - Gold: Down 0.8% to US$ 4,295.70 per ounce. - Crypto: Bitcoin fell 0.6% to US$ 76,979.55. • Bonds & Yields: - U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield hit a 3-year high of 4.8122%. - Japanese 5-Year government bond yield reached a record 2.295%. • Central Bank & Currency Actions: - U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rose to 99.79. Markets price a 67% chance of a 25-bps U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike on September 16. - Reserve Bank of New Zealand hiked interest rates by 25 bps to 2.75%.