Shafaqna English– A modest uptick in oil prices accompanied by rising bond yields dampened the meager stock gains recorded during the early hours of Asian trading on Tuesday(18 Aug 2026). The shift in market sentiment was largely attributed to the lapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, alongside Tehran’s warning that it would transition to military stance, thereby reigniting geopolitical fears among investors.
The broadest MSCI gauge for Asia-Pacific equities excluding Japan advanced by 0.8%, primarily driven by a robust 3% surge in South Korea’s KOSPI, which rebounded strongly as the Seoul exchange reopened following a public holiday. In contrast, Japan’s Nikkei 225 dipped by 0.3%, while S&P 500 e-mini futures remained virtually unchanged, reflecting a cautious global outlook.
Source: Reuters