Nikkei 225, Kospi, Hang Seng, CSI300

Asia-Pacific markets opened lower on Friday as oil prices rose on renewed fears that a protracted conflict in the Middle East could further restrict energy supplies and raise fears of a global economic downturn.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil trade, should remain closed and Tehran could open other fronts in the war if the conflict continues, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a speech late Thursday.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy Commander Ali Reza Tangsiri also doubled down on the threat. social media postWarning “the hardest blows to the aggressive enemy”.

bookmakers prediction market Kalshi They have increased their bets that the U.S. economy could enter a recession this year, with that probability rising to 32%, the highest this year.

International benchmark Brent crude oil closed at $100.46 per barrel, up 9.22% on Thursday. This was the first time Brent closed above $100 since August 2022. US West Texas Intermediate futures settled at $95.73, up 9.72%.

Oil prices are likely to remain elevated in the near term as investors price in the risk of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, Tortoise Capital senior portfolio manager Rob Thummel told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Friday.

However, he expects prices to ease towards the end of the year as the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz is likely to continue. “Until December [oil] “The supply will be better, it will be higher, so if you can do that in December you will be able to buy oil much cheaper.”

US President Donald Trump said that the US is trying to downplay the rise in oil prices. world’s largest oil producerstands take advantage of high oil pricesHe emphasized that his priority would be to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The United States will temporarily allow purchases of sanctioned Russian crude currently offshore to stabilize energy markets, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday night, framing the price increase as a “temporary disruption.”

of Australia S&P/ASX 200 It was down 0.3% in early Asian trading.

of japan Nikkei 225 It fell 2%, while the broad-based Topix fell 1.4%. honda engine It fell over 6%, the Nikkei’s biggest decline after the automaker. estimates its first annual loss in almost 70 years.

South Korea’s blue-chip Kospi lost almost 3% of its value, while the small-cap Kosdaq lost nearly 2%.

of hong kong Hang Seng index It would open lower with futures last trading at 25,467 compared to the index’s previous close of 25,716.76.

While major stock indices in the US fell to their lowest levels in 2026 overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 740 points below 47,000 for the first time this year.

The S&P 500 index closed at 6,672.62 points with a loss of 1.5 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite closed at 22,311.98 points with a loss of 1.8 percent.

Futures contracts tied to the 30-stock Dow fell 0.03 percent. S&P 500 futures gained 0.21%, while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.12%.

Investors are waiting for important inflation data from the USA. Economists surveyed by Reuters predict that the personal consumption expenditures price index due on Friday rose 2.9% in January, with the core index accelerating to 3.1%.