Asia-Pacific markets dipped on Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average touch a new closing low for the year.
The Iran war continues to fuel energy worries. International benchmark Brent crude futures were last up 6.12% at $113.97 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures were trading 1.08% higher at $97.36 per barrel.
Investors in Asia also weighed the Bank of Japan rate decision, with the bank expectedly holding rates at 0.75%.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost all of what it had gained the day before, 1,866.87 points, or 3.4%, to 55,372.53.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng dumped 524.84 points, or 2%, to 25,500.58.
The Kospi in Korea lost ground, ending a streak of three winning sessions after being the top gainer in the region on Wednesday.
Chip heavyweights Samsung Electronics retreated 3.8% and SK Hynix saw losses of 4.1%.
The South Korean won briefly broke past the 1,500 mark against the dollar earlier in the session, prompting finance minister Koo Yun-cheol to say on Wednesday that authorities have a “heightened sense of vigilance toward the foreign exchange market,” according to South Korean media.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 sank 75.08 points, or 1.6%, to 4,583.25.
In Korea, the Kospi index subtracted 161.81 points, or 2.7%, to 5,763.22.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index dished off 34.56 points, or 0.7%, to 4,967.61.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index lost 658.9 points, or 1.9%, to 33,689.68.
In Australia, the ASX retreated 142.85 points, or 1.7%, to 8,497.79.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 tumbled 263.99 points, or 2%, to 13,051.61.
