Asia-Pacific stock markets opened the week lower, with few exceptions. A negative opening is also expected for European markets, while Wall Street futures are also declining.
Weighing on sentiment is the escalation between the United States and Iran, with mutual attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. With Tokyo closed for a public holiday, the focus is on Seoul, which shed 4.46% amid growing concerns over increasingly stretched valuations in the artificial intelligence sector, while Hong Kong rose 1.8% on optimism fuelled by domestic developments in AI.
For the rest, markets are maintaining a cautious stance regarding the outlook for monetary policy at global central banks, also in light of the geopolitical landscape.
The most anticipated event of the week is Thursday's ECB meeting, from which no changes to interest rates are expected, but it will be significant for any indications that may emerge regarding future decisions.
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