Stock markets around the world slumped and oil prices surged after Israel on Thursday launched a military strike on Iran.
Two hours before the start of trade in the U.S., S&P 500 futures contracts fell 65 points, or 1.1%, to 5,984, while futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.1% and 1.4%, respectively.
U.S. benchmark crude oil jumped $4.97, or 7.3%, to $72.91 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose $4.78, or 6.7%, to $74.15 per barrel.
“Any remaining hopes for sub-$60 [barrel per] oil prices this year must now be buried. Israel’s attacks early Friday against Iran, directed against nuclear facilities, missile sites and senior personnel, are a marked departure from earlier exchanges between the two Middle Eastern powers,” Tom Holland, global research director with investment advisory firm Gavekal, told clients in a note.
Markets in Asia and Europe sank in overnight trading. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9%, the Kospi in Seoul lost 0.9%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng retreated 0.6%, Shanghai Composite Index sank 0.8% and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.2%. In Europe, Germany’s DAX dropped 1.4%, France’s CAC 40 shed 1% and Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.5%.
Israel’s attack involved a wave of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, scientists and senior military commanders. Iran responded to the attack by firing more than 100 drones at Israel on Friday morning, according to Israeli officials.
“The main channel by which this escalation could impact the global economy would be through higher oil prices,” analysts with Capital Economics said in a report.
“For what it’s worth, there does not appear to have been any direct impact on oil production or export facilities in Iran. But the key risk for global energy markets is that Iran tries to block the Strait of Hormuz,” they added.
Still, a sustained increase in energy prices could reverse U.S. progress in lowering inflation closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% annual target, according to JPMorgan analysts.
contributed to this report.
