US equities fell on Tuesday as investors closely monitored escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the Israel-Iran conflict entering its fifth day. The S&P 500 lost 0.8%, the Dow dropped 299 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.9%, amid growing fears that the US could become directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. President Trump intensified his rhetoric, demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender" and warning of a potential strike against Supreme Leader Khamenei in a series of Truth Social posts. At the same time, disappointing US retail sales, which dropped 0.9% in May, signaled a...
The Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% to above 38,600, while the broader Topix index also rose 0.2% to 2,792 on Wednesday, marking its third straight session of gains as investors digested a slew of economic data. Exports fell in May for the first time in eight months amid U.S. tariff pressures, while imports fell more than expected. Core machine orders slumped in April, and manufacturing sentiment weakened in June, reflecting growing concerns about domestic demand. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady on Tuesday and signaled a cautious approach to balance sheet reduction,...
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Wednesday, as rising tensions between Israel and Iran weighed on investor sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a military strike on Iran, while demanding that the country's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "surrender," current and former U.S. officials told NBC News. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, demanded "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" by Iran. "President Trump's comments have fueled speculation that the U.S. will become more involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel that escalated significantly five days ago," ANZ analysts wrote...