Closing Bell 17th June: ASX Wavers as Oil Rises on Trump’s Iran Warning

Asia-Pacific Markets Mixed as Investors Monitor Middle East Tensions

Asia-Pacific equity markets were mostly lower in volatile Tuesday trade as investors digested escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the evacuation of Tehran and early departure from the G7 summit.

Despite market unease, Fitch Ratings said the conflict’s current impact remains manageable within Israel’s ‘A’/Negative credit rating, while Lombard Odier’s chief economist Samy Chaar noted no signs of irreversible escalation. Still, Chaar warned that persistent uncertainty and elevated energy costs could weigh on global growth and inflation.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.59% and the Topix gained 0.34% after the Bank of Japan left its interest rate unchanged at 0.5% and signaled a slower pace of bond purchases starting next April. South Korea’s Kospi was flat, while the Kosdaq dropped 0.53%.

Mainland China’s CSI 300 edged down 0.15%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.13%. Australia’s ASX 200 declined 0.14%, while India’s Nifty 50 and Sensex lost 0.27% and 0.37%, respectively, amid global risk aversion.