A short review: global stock exchange investments in tension
As of March-April 2026, international experts recorded that the Israel-US war on Iran has caused significant volatility in worldwide stock markets, leading to an estimated $3.2 trillion loss in worldwide equity value within 96 hours of the conflict’s start. The war triggered sharp sell-offs, mainly in Middle Eastern markets like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The conflict caused an immediate $3.2 trillion loss in global equity value, driven by a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Statistics show that UAE stock markets (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) lost almost $1.2 billion in value following the war’s outbreak on February 28, 2026. The conflict also resulted in a 20 percent cut in global LNG supply and pushed oil prices above $115 a barrel. While initial reactions were negative, some defense stocks saw gains, while airline and broader Asian indices experienced severe volatility, per. Before the conflict, worldwide equities in early 2026 had strong momentum, with the MSCI World Index rising 2.9 percent between January and February. Experts also warn that prolonged conflict could hinder central bank rate cuts, mainly in the US, because of high energy prices.
South Korean shares end 4.5 percent lower
South Korean shares closed more than 4 percent lower on Thursday as hopes faded that the Iran war could end soon after US President Donald Trump vowed to continue hitting targets.
The benchmark KOSPI closed down 244.65 points, or 4.47 percent, at 5,234.05, after steep losses triggered a sidecar trading curb during the session.
The KOSPI opened higher but erased early gains of 1.75 percent after Trump’s speech on the Iran war.
Trump said in a televised speech on Wednesday night that the US would continue to hit targets in the Islamic Republic over the next two to three weeks.
“In particular, there was no solution offered on the risks around the Strait of Hormuz,” said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.
South Korea’s inflation picked up less than expected in March as the government capped fuel prices, but policymakers and economists warned that risks remain tilted to the upside.
European shares seen lower at open
Futures tracking Europe’s main stock indexes fell more than 1 percent on Thursday as hopes of a quick end to the Middle East conflict faded after US President Donald Trump vowed more strikes on Iran.
Futures tracking the pan-European STOXX 600 index .
slid nearly 2 percent by 0636 GMT, with contracts tracking Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 index down 1.7 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.
Market sentiment weakened after Trump said “we’re going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.”
Australian shares rise on hopes
Australian shares gained on Thursday, boosted by gains in mining and banking stocks, as lingering optimism that the Middle East conflict may be nearing a resolution boosted sentiment.
The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.4 percent to 8,706.50 points by 2339 GMT.
The benchmark gained 2.2 percent in a holiday-shortened week and was on track for its strongest weekly climb since early February.
Hopes of de-escalation of the Iran war, which in its fifth week, resurfaced after US President Donald Trump said the US could end its military attacks on Iran in two to three weeks, and could return for “spot hits,” if needed.
Trump is expected to provide an update on Iran in an address to the nation at 0100 GMT.
Miners rose as much as 1.3 percent to their highest level since March 9 on the back of strong iron ore and copper prices, and was on track for its fifth consecutive session of gains.
The sub-index gained 7.6 percent for the week. Strong bullion prices supported gold miners to rise as much as 3.1 percent to a near three-week high.
Japan’s nikkei rises
Japan’s Nikkei share average rose on Thursday, lifted by hopes of a de-escalation in the Middle East conflict, with investors awaiting remarks later in the day from US President Donald Trump that could signal the war’s trajectory.
The Nikkei rose 0.85 percent to 54,207.02 as of 0008 GMT, while the broader Topix climbed 1.18 percent to 3,715.25.
Trump, who had signalled that an end to the Middle East conflict could be close, is scheduled to address the nation at 9 p.m. EDT on Wednesday (0100 GMT on Thursday) to provide what he described as an “important update on Iran”.
Speaking to Reuters, Trump said the US would end its war on Iran fairly soon and could return for “spot hits” if needed.
In a Truth Social post earlier, Trump had said that Iran’s new leader had asked for a ceasefire.
Indian shares set to open lower
India’s equity benchmarks are poised to open lower on Thursday, tracking weakness across broader Asian peers, after US President Donald Trump stopped short of outlining a roadmap to end Iran war.
GIFT Nifty futures were trading at 22,359, as of 7:41 a.m. IST, indicating that the benchmark Nifty 50 will open below Wednesday’s close of 22,679.40 points.
Other Asian markets dropped 1.2 percent after Trump said Washington’s “core strategic objectives” in the Iran war were nearing completion.
However, he did not provide a clear outlook on when the conflict would end.
Trump’s comments that the U.S. will strike Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks also intensified near-term geopolitical anxiety and drove crude oil prices higher.
Brent crude climbed 4 percent to about $105 per barrel.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPI) offloaded shares worth 83.31 billion rupees ($893.83 million) on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors (DII) bought stocks worth 71.72 billion rupees, according to ’s provisional data.
In the previous session, the Nifty 50 and Sensex indexes gained about 1.6 percent each, in line with a global rally sparked by expectations of a de-escalation in the Iran war.