SHANGHAI, Jan 3 — Asian shares fell today, erasing early gains, while oil prices spiked after US air strikes in Iraq killed a top Iranian commander, heightening geopolitical tensions. Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and top Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi...
It had been lifted by a New Year’s Day announcement from China’s central bank that it would cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves, releasing around 800 billion yuan. — Reuters pic
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan had touched its highest point since June 15, 2018 in early trade, but fell after reports of the air strike emerged. It was last down 0.26 per cent. “It is significant that one of Iran’s top military generals was reported to have been taken out ... but it all hinges on what Iran does in terms of retaliation,” he said.
Against the backdrop of a thaw in trade relations between the United States and China, global markets had seen renewed appetite for risk assets. Shares had received further support from data yesterday showing factory activity in China continued to grow at a solid pace in December, and that business confidence improved.
News of the strikes came after US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said yesterday there were indications Iran or forces it backs may be planning additional attacks after Iranian-backed demonstrators hurled rocks at the US embassy in Baghdad following American strikes on Sunday against bases of the Tehran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Oil surges after US killing of top Iranian general fuels war fears | The Malaysian InsightInvestors rushing for the hills piled into safe-haven units, including the Japanese yen and gold which reached a near four-month peak.
Read more »
Iraq PM says US strike threatens ‘devastating war’ | Malay MailBAGHDAD, Jan 3 — Iraq’s caretaker prime minister Adel Abdel Mahdi slammed a US strike that killed top Iraqi and Iranian commanders in Baghdad today as an “aggression” that would “spark a devastating war”. “The assassination of an Iraqi military commander in an official post is an...
Read more »
Reactions to killing of Iranian general in US air strike | Malay MailWASHINGTON, Jan 3 — Here are some reactions to the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, in a US air strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport. Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “All enemies should know that the jihad of resistance will...
Read more »
State Department tells US citizens to leave Iraq ‘immediately’ | Malay MailWASHINGTON, Jan 3 — The State Department today told US citizens to leave Iraq “immediately,” after an American strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. “Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge US citizens to depart Iraq immediately,” the State...
Read more »
Oil prices surge after US strike kills Iranian general | Malay MailHONG KONG, Jan 3 — Oil prices soared more than four per cent today following news that the US had killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region. The head of Iran’s Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad’s international airport...
Read more »
US says it kills top Iranian commander Soleimani in air strike | Malay MailBAGHDAD, Jan 3 — The United States killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and spearhead of Iran's spreading military influence in the Middle East, today in an air strike at Baghdad airport, the Pentagon and Iran said. Top Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi...
Read more »