Thursday 2nd April 2026: Asia-Pacific Shares Decline Amid Renewed U.S.–Iran Tensions

Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 2.14%, Shanghai Composite down 0.53% Hang Seng down 1.02% ASX down 1.03%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,719.51 (-2.20%) Silver at $72.145 (-5.50%), Brent Oil at $106.71 (4.26%), WTI Oil at $104.57 (4.92%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.368, UK 10-year yield at 4.8340, Germany 10-year yield at 2.996

News & Data:
(USD) ADP Non-Farm Employment Change 62K to 41K expected

Markets Update:

Asia-Pacific markets erased early gains on Thursday as investors reacted to fresh remarks from Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.

In his address, Trump said U.S. objectives in Iran were close to being achieved and emphasized that Washington “has all the cards” in the situation. He also warned that the United States could intensify its response against Iran over the next two to three weeks if conditions did not improve.

Earlier, Trump claimed that Iran’s “new regime president” had approached the U.S. seeking a ceasefire, although Tehran denied the statement. He added on Truth Social that Washington would consider any such request only after the Strait of Hormuz was fully reopened and safe for passage. This appeared to contrast with earlier reports suggesting the U.S. might end its campaign even if the strategic waterway remained restricted.

Following the remarks, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 1.4%, while the Topix slipped 0.94%. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 2.82%, and the Kosdaq fell about 3%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 also reversed early gains to trade 0.48% lower. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng opened 0.5% down, while mainland China’s CSI 300 remained largely unchanged.

U.S. stock futures were mostly flat, though Wall Street closed higher overnight, with gains across major indices.

Upcoming Events:
12:30 PM GMT – USD Unemployment Claims

Learn More

Disclaimer:

Raw Trading Ltd is regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) with Securities Dealer’s license number SD018.Risk Warning: Trading Forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Trading Forex and CFDs may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary. Please read and ensure you fully understand our Risk Disclosure.Restricted Countries: Raw Trading Ltd does not provide services for residents of certain countries such as the United States of America, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Iran and North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) or a country where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.You must be 18 years old, or of legal age as determined in your country. Upon registering an account with Raw Trading Ltd, you acknowledge that you are registering at your own free will, without solicitation on behalf of Raw Trading Ltd.Raw Trading Ltd does not direct its website and services to any individual in any country in which the use of its website and services are prohibited by local laws or regulations. When accessing this website from a country in which its use may or may not be prohibited, it is the user’s responsibility to ensure that any use of the website or services adheres to local laws or regulations. Raw Trading Ltd does not affirm that the information on its website is suitable for all jurisdictions.

Publication date:

02 April 2026 - 11:07 (GMT)