Hong Kong, Apr 02: Oil rose more than 4 per cent and Asian stocks fell after US President Donald Trump said in his first national address since the Iran war began that the US will keep hitting Iran very hard.
Trump also said the United States will “finish the job” in Iran and that military operations could wrap up soon.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was down 1.4 per cent to 53,004.81 in early Asia trading on Thursday. South Korea’s Kospi lost 3.4 per cent to 5,292.36. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.8 per cent to 25,082.59.
US futures were down more than 0.7 per cent.
Oil prices were sharply higher following Trump’s remarks. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 5 per cent to USD 106.22 per barrel. Benchmark US crude rose 4.2 per cent to USD 104.36 a barrel.
