[MARKET UPDATE] Asia-Pac stocks begin lower following the negative handover from US amid higher oil prices and recent Middle East escalation, while participants digest a slew of data heading into month- and quarter-end

Asia-Pac stocks are starting off lower due to a negative lead from US markets, compounded by rising oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Newsquawk StaffPublished 31 Mar 2026, 00:27 UTCOn the live feed at 00:07 UTC — 2 more headlines followed before this page went public

Newsquawk headlinesUTC

00:15

PBoC is expected to set USD/CNY mid-point at 6.9209 (prev. 6.9209)

00:14

PBoC steps up reverse repos to ensure quarter-end liquidity, according to China Securities Journal

00:07

[MARKET UPDATE] Asia-Pac stocks begin lower following the negative handover from US amid higher oil prices and recent Middle East escalation, while participants digest a slew of data heading into month- and quarter-end

00:06

Violent explosions reported in Isfahan, central Iran, according to Al Hadath

00:00

New Zealand ANZ Acticity Outlook (Mar) 39.3 (Prev. 52.6)

Open the platform and use it. The whole workspace is free to try, with no signup and no card. When you want the headlines arriving live instead of on a delay, Newsquawk Pro is £24.99 for 7 days.

Try the platform free

Free. No signup, no card.

Context

This decline reflects broader investor sentiment amid geopolitical uncertainties, and with month- and quarter-end adjustments underway, further volatility can be expected as market participants digest both geopolitical developments and incoming data releases.

Energy · last 90 days

Recent headlines that moved markets

ENERGY/8 Sept · 05:23 UTC

Saudi Energy Minister says a number of energy facilities and utilities were hit; are temporarily halting some operations.

Brent Nov'26, after we published+1.0%

Steady upside of around 1% was seen across the crude complex following this update.

ENERGY/3 Sept · 08:03 UTC

Russian President Putin says that Russia and Ukraine should agree first; he notes that there is an opportunity to reach a peace agreement.

with Brent Nov, after we published−1.3%

ENERGY/1 Sept · 16:17 UTC

Initial reports of an American attack on Iran, reports i24's Stein.

- Brent (V6), after we published+1.2%

ENERGY/27 Aug · 17:46 UTC

The Trump administration has repeatedly told mediators it has no interest in going back to the terms of the MoU it reached with Iran in June, reports WSJ citing sources

Brent crude, after we published+1.4%

ENERGY/25 Aug · 19:26 UTC

A ceasefire between the US and Iran has been agreed upon, it includes free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and will be announced in the coming days, reports Ria citing Pakistani and Iranian sources

Brent crude, after we published−2.4%

ENERGY/8 Sept · 19:59 UTC

IRGC says in light of the evils of the US army in targeting several oil tankers of Iran, we warn all oil tanker crews in the Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, they will be targeted, Tasnim reports.

Brent crude, after we published+0.5%

Newsquawk Daily

Get both market opens in your inbox.

This note and the other one — the EU open and the US open, every business day, written by the desk. No account needed.

Related headlines

The whole workspace, free to try.

© 2026 Newsquawk. All rights reserved.