Stocks in most Asian markets rebounded on Thursday after a three-day rout caused by the war in Iran and other parts of the Middle East.
But the threat of an extended conflict saw oil prices continue to rise, and analysts warned of more volatility ahead.
Seoul was again the standout, with the Kospi soaring 12% at one point as traders snapped up bargains following the near-20% slump over the previous two days that put the index within reach of a bear market.
ALSO SEE: War in Iran Could Hit Some of Asia’s Biggest Economies Hard
South Korea’s president ordered on Thursday the activation of a $68 billion stabilisation fund as the Mideast crisis roiled markets.
The advances followed a positive day on Wall Street, where forecast-topping figures on US private-sector hiring and services industry activity provided some much-needed positive news.
Global markets have been thrown into turmoil this week after the United States and Israel began strikes against Iran on Saturday, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and sparking a wave of retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.
Tehran also effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s crude and considerable liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies travel, sending prices soaring.
Both main oil contracts are up almost 20% since Friday, stoking the chances of a fresh spike in inflation and dealing a blow to hopes for lower interest rates.
Sell-off amid doubt over inflated AI prices
The sell-off in equities came as traders were questioning elevated prices in the tech sector after an AI-fuelled rally that saw several markets hit multiple record highs.
Among the best Asian performers was Seoul, which had advanced about 50% since the start of the year – having gained 76% in 2025 – thanks to a surge in chip giants Samsung and SK Hynix.
But it was at the forefront of this week’s collapse, shedding almost 19% Tuesday and Wednesday.
While it clawed back a substantial part of those losses Thursday, rising 9.6%, observers remained cautious.
“Much of the move reflects technical traders stepping in to buy the dip after the market fell nearly 20% from its peak in just a matter of days,” Reed Capital Partners’ Gerald Gan said.
“It remains unclear whether this marks a genuine inflection point for further upside or simply a bear-market rally.”
Nikkei up 1.9%, Taipei 2%
There were also gains elsewhere in the region, with Tokyo piling on 1.9%, while Taipei jumped more than 2%.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Manila, Mumbai and Bangkok were also well up, though most pared their early rallies.
SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes warned: “The real driver remains the same fuse that lit the selloff in the first place: oil.
“Brent grinding higher and (West Texas Intermediate) climbing toward the mid-$70s is not yet a supply crisis, but it is a reminder that energy remains the hidden central bank of the global economy.
“Oil does not just move commodities. It reshapes rate expectations, equity valuations, and currency flows all at once.”
He added that traders were having to weigh the geopolitical issues against data showing the US economy, the world’s biggest, continued to grow.
“The rebound we are seeing is not the end of volatility. It is the market taking a breath before deciding which narrative deserves the steering wheel. And right now the steering wheel still belongs to oil.”
Concerns about how long the war will go on continue to weigh, adding to economic concerns, with Danish shipping giant Maersk saying it was suspending bookings in the Gulf until further notice.
Warship sunk, Tehran denies wanting talks
And Tehran denied a New York Times report that it had offered to negotiate with the United States to end the war, Bloomberg reported.
Meanwhile, a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, extending the battle outside the Middle East.
National Australia Bank’s Ken Crompton added that oil traders were unmoved by US President Donald Trump’s pledge to protect ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which had provided a small glimmer of support on Wednesday.
“The fact is it’s just not feasible to reasonably protect all ships in the region,” he wrote, pointing out that Houthis in Yemen had carried out multiple attacks on ships in the past.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed “complete control” of the Strait, with reports of additional vessels coming under attack on Wednesday.
Energy intelligence firm Kpler said oil tanker transits through the Strait had dropped by 90% from last week.
Key figures at around 0700 GMT
Seoul – Kospi: UP 9.6% at 5,683.90 (close)
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.9% at 55,278.06 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1% at 25,282.73
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.6% at 4,108.57 (close)
West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.6% at $77.38 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 3.2% at $84.01 per barrel
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 157.01 yen from 157.06 yen
New York – Dow: UP 0.5% at 48,739.41 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.8% at 10,567.65 (close)
AFP with additional editing by Jim Pollard
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