Business & Markets
Nikkei drops 3% as Brent crude tops $108
Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 3.03% to 63,291 points in early trading Friday, as investors weighed renewed Middle East tensions and higher oil prices that could add to inflation pressure.
At around 9:15 a.m. in Japan, Brent crude was still up 0.5% at $108.15 a barrel after rising 6.34% the previous day.
The oil gains followed the Houthis' seizure of Yemen's strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha. A Yemeni military source told AFP that the Iran-backed Houthis were advancing toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the route linking Asia to Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said the development posed “a further threat to global energy supplies”. The waterway has become more important since the wider Middle East war began, after Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi Arabia shifted part of its exports through the Red Sea.
Rystad Energy analyst Jorge Leon told AFP that about eight million barrels a day were flowing through the Strait of Hormuz in the last week of August, but that flows had fallen in recent days to under two million barrels a day, closer to 1.5 million.
US stocks closed lower Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each down 0.6%. The S&P 500 fell for a fourth straight day. London, Paris and Frankfurt also closed lower.
Long-term US Treasury yields climbed after US government data showed producer prices rose 5.4% in August from a year earlier, up from 4.8% in July, driven by energy prices. The European Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate to 2.5% and warned that inflation was “set to remain well above target for an extended period”.
Update
At around 9:15 a.m. in Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 3.03% at 63,291 points.
Brent crude was still up 0.5% at $108.15 after rising 6.34% the previous day.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 00:35:15 UTC.
Update
Japan's Nikkei index fell 3% as oil prices surged.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 00:20:39 UTC.
Update
Brent crude closed the cited period up 6.3% at $107.63 a barrel, its highest level since May.
West Texas Intermediate was up 6.7% at $102.48 a barrel.
The S&P 500 fell 0.6% and dropped for a fourth straight day.
The 30-year US Treasury yield reached 5.36%, its highest level since 2007.
The euro fell against the dollar after the ECB rate increase as investors looked ahead to US consumer inflation data and the Federal Reserve decision.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 20:51:34 UTC.
Update
West Texas Intermediate rose above $100 a barrel and Brent crude rose 5.0% to $106.26 around 1530 GMT.
The source links the oil move to Houthi control of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Mocha and concerns about Bab al-Mandab shipping.
The European Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate to 2.5%.
US and European stock indexes were down around 1530 GMT, with broad losses also reported in Asia.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 16:13:16 UTC.
Update
The Dow was down 0.4% at 52,185.98 about 10 minutes after the open.
The S&P 500 was down 0.5% at 7,597.87 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.8% at 26,046.94.
The 30-year Treasury yield climbed to 5.35%, described as its highest level since 2007, after the inflation data.
Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management said the Federal Reserve would likely raise rates next week, while warning that the war in Iran clouded the inflation outlook.
Investors were watching US consumer inflation data due Friday for its possible bearing on next week's Federal Reserve decision.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 14:00:53 UTC.
Update
Brent crude was up 4.0% at $105.28 a barrel around 1340 GMT, and West Texas Intermediate was up 4.2% at $100.09.
The European Central Bank raised its benchmark rate to 2.5%.
US producer prices rose 5.4% year-on-year in August.
Wall Street opened lower, while European markets were also down after Asian losses.
Apple shares opened up 0.9% after the company unveiled its first folding iPhone and raised prices on its latest classic models.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 13:46:26 UTC.
Update
Around 0810 GMT, Brent North Sea crude was up 0.2% at $101.42 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was up 0.2% at $95.26.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed down 1.3%, while Shanghai closed down 0.4% and Tokyo closed up 0.2%.
London and Frankfurt dipped while Paris rose in early European trading.
Nintendo shares fell almost 5% after an online showcase of upcoming games.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 08:20:22 UTC.
Update
Around 0715 GMT, Brent North Sea crude was at $100.38 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was at $95.49.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 closed up 0.2% at 65,270.95, while Hong Kong and Shanghai were lower.
London and Paris edged up, while Frankfurt dipped.
Houthi rebels reported about 40 strikes in a fresh Saudi attack Thursday.
Government bond yields rose after the US Treasury announced an expanded buyback programme.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 07:34:14 UTC.
Update
Asian stocks fell Thursday as oil prices extended gains after Brent crude moved above $100 a barrel on Wednesday.
Brent reached a high of $101.94 Thursday, while West Texas Intermediate peaked at $97.79, according to the item.
Seoul, Hong Kong and Sydney fell more than 1%, while Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei and Manila were also lower.
The European Central Bank was tipped to raise borrowing costs Thursday, while investors awaited US consumer price data that could influence Federal Reserve rate expectations.
Nintendo shares fell 5.5% after an online showcase of upcoming games.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 02:45:21 UTC.
Update
Brent North Sea crude topped $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since the end of July.
Brent rose more than 2% to $100.19 a barrel before easing to $99.90.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 07:42:28 UTC.
Update
Brent oil hit $100 a barrel.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 07:31:43 UTC.
Update
Brent crude rose to $99.46 a barrel in Asian morning trade.
West Texas Intermediate was at $94.45 a barrel.
US Central Command said US forces destroyed five Iranian oil carriers on Tuesday after directing crews to abandon the vessels.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 03:47:28 UTC.
Update
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted two US vessels, eight oil tankers and 10 other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said the vessels were trying to pass through a prohibited and unsafe zone.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 03:33:41 UTC.
Update
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they intercepted and destroyed an advanced MQ1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Guards did not say who was behind the alleged drone attack.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 19:44:19 UTC.
Update
Iranian media said there were no casualties.
Tasnim news agency said the tanker was four miles from Kharg Island in the Kharg Island anchorage.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 19:43:13 UTC.
Update
Iranian media said a US missile struck an Iranian tanker off Kharg Island.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 19:37:53 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The Nikkei figure was from early trading and may change during the session.
The supplied material attributes the Houthi advance toward Bab al-Mandab to a Yemeni military source.
Source
AFP news report published on .