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Asian markets fall as oil surges amid escalation in US-Iran crisisThe MSCI Asia Pacific Index experienced its first decline in three days, falling 0.4%. After having demand boosted for those assets during the US session, Treasury bonds maintained their gains, and gold remained near $5,000 per ounce. The dollar was about to record its strongest week since the middle of November.By CNBCTV18.com February 20, 2026, 7:17:41 AM IST (Published)2 Min Read(Photo Credit : Reuters)The Asian markets fell as oil rose to its highest level since August, amid escalating tensions in Iran, which weighed on sentiment.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index experienced its first decline in three days, falling 0.4%. After having demand boosted for those assets during the US session, Treasury bonds maintained their gains, and gold remained near $5,000 per ounce. The dollar was about to record its strongest week since the middle of November.

Alternative asset managers saw steep drops on Thursday as a result of Blue Owl Capital Inc., a private credit firm, limiting withdrawals from one of its funds. While mainland China remained closed, Hong Kong's markets were scheduled to reopen following the Lunar New Year vacations.

With a 0.1% increase, West Texas Intermediate crude oil's gains this year now stand at 16%.

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Market caution has returned as US actions on Iran have added a new level of geopolitical risk, stopping a nascent recovery in stocks and reducing overall risk appetite. A fragile rebound that had started to take hold following weeks of instability is in danger of being derailed by the rekindled hostilities.

Trump has the potential to launch a significant attack against Iran because the US military has a wide range of forces in the Middle East, including fighter aircraft, two aircraft carriers, and refuelling tankers.

Iran's window for reaching a diplomatic compromise on its atomic programmes may be closing as a result of the United States' military buildup in the Middle East. A possible conflict would jeopardise oil shipments from an area that supplies around one-third of the world's oil.

Continue Reading(Edited by : Juviraj Anchil)TagsAsia Marketsasia markets today