- Asian equities declined as uncertainty engulfed global markets due to an increase in Middle East tensions, which led to greater gains for oil and gold.
- The MSCI Asia Pacific Index, a measure of regional benchmarks, fell 0.2% and is on track to see its largest weekly decline in two months. As regulators injected a record amount of short-term liquidity into China's financial system, stocks there recovered some of their earlier losses, while US equity contracts fell.
- As Federal Reserve Chairman Powell signalled that the US central bank is inclined to hold interest rates constant again at its next meeting while it examines important growth data, Treasuries climbed, with gains in 10-year debt driving the increase. The dollar grew little.
- Following news that US outposts in Iraq and Syria were the target of drone attacks, oil prices increased to above $90 per barrel and gold prices crept closer to $2,000 an ounce. Investors were on edge as well after an American destroyer in the Red Sea shot down drones and cruise missiles fired at Israel by Yemeni Houthi rebels.
