Asian markets today: Asian markets gave up earlier gains on Thursday, April 2, as investors reacted to President Donald Trump’s address on the Iran war.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.4% following the speech, while the Topix declined 0.94%.
South Korea’s Kospi dropped 2.82%, and the small-cap Kosdaq slipped 3%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200, which had opened higher, edged down 0.48%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also opened 0.5% lower after the address, while mainland China’s CSI 300 remained largely unchanged.
Back home, trends in Gift Nifty also suggest a gap-down opening for Indian benchmark indices. Gift Nifty was trading near the 22,356 mark, reflecting a discount of about 444 points compared to the previous close of Nifty futures.
Donald Trump’s speech on Iran war
In his speech, Trump reiterated that US objectives in Iran were nearly achieved, asserting that “we have all the cards” in the conflict. He also warned that Washington would strike Iran “very hard” over the next two to three weeks.
“Over the next two to three weeks, we’re going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong,” the president said.
Trump’s speech comes at a time when the administration is facing mounting scrutiny over its strategy in the Iran war, with growing calls for a clear roadmap toward de-escalation. Now in its fifth week, the conflict has intensified geopolitical uncertainty and disrupted critical global energy routes.
Earlier on Wednesday in the US, Trump claimed that Iran’s “new regime president” had sought a ceasefire—an assertion Tehran has denied.
He further said the US would “consider” such a proposal only if the Strait of Hormuz was “open, free, and clear,” according to his post on Truth Social.
However, a report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump had previously indicated a willingness to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed.
US stock market today
US stock futures fell after Donald Trump signaled that the ongoing Iran conflict in the Middle East could drag on for several more weeks.
Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 352 points, or about 0.8%, while S&P 500 futures also declined 0.8%. Meanwhile, Nasdaq 100 futures slid 1%.
On Wednesday, US stock markets closed higher, supported by optimism over a potential end to the Iran conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.48% to finish at 46,565.74, while the S&P 500 gained 0.72% to 6,575.32. The Nasdaq outperformed, climbing 1.16% to settle at 21,840.95.
Nvidia shares edged up 0.75%, while AMD climbed 3.33%. Alphabet gained 2.79%, and Tesla also rose 2.79%. Meanwhile, Intel surged 8.8%, Intuitive Machines jumped 9%, and Planet Labs rallied 10%, whereas Nike tumbled 15.5%.
Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. Please consult with an investment advisor before making any investment decisions.
