Asian markets closed the trading session on Friday, June 13, the closing session of the week. Japan’s Nikkei index fell by more than 300 points, as risk appetite in the markets declined, demand for safe-haven assets increased, and bond yields fell following the major escalation in the Middle East after Israel launched an attack on Iran.
Israel launched an airstrike on Iran this morning, Friday, with explosions heard in Tehran and Natanz, one of Iran’s main nuclear sites, as well as several other Iranian cities. The deaths of the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, the chief of staff, the presidential advisor, and several nuclear scientists were announced. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Israel had struck the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.
This attack on nuclear facilities in Iran and the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have heightened market concerns. The VIX fear index, which measures volatility, rose 22% this morning, while US index futures markets declined following the decline in Asian and European markets.
The Nikkei index closed at 37,834 points, down 0.89%, or 338 points, while the index recorded weekly gains of 0.25%. The Topix index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell by approximately 0.95% today, closing at 2,756 points. LY and Tokyo Electron led the Nikkei’s losses, falling more than 4.5%.
Chinese indices recorded declines in today’s closing session. The broader Chinese CSI300 index fell by approximately 0.72% today, closing at 3,864 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index of the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed down by 0.75%, closing at 3,377 points.
The Hang Seng Index, the main index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, fell by approximately 0.59% today, closing at 23,892 points. Sunny Optical Technology led the declines, falling more than 5%. In contrast, South Korea’s Kospi index fell by approximately 0.87% in today’s session, closing at 2,894 points.
India’s Sensex index fell by approximately 0.58% before closing at 81,222 points, while the Nifty 50 index fell by approximately 0.69% to trade at 24,715 points.
New Zealand stock markets closed with losses today, with the NZX 50 index falling by approximately 0.76% to close at 12,552 points, while Australia’s ASX 200 index fell by approximately 0.21% to close at 8,547 points. Singapore’s main index declined by 0.43% in pre-closing trading.