Asian Markets Slide as US Bond Yields Spike and US-Iran Uncertainty Returns

Asian equity markets tumbled Monday as a sharp rise in US 10-year Treasury yields and renewed US–Iran geopolitical uncertainty triggered a risk-off move. Major regional indices from Tokyo to Seoul fell — the Nikkei 225 plunged over 2% and South Korea’s Kospi dropped more than 1.5% — as investors reassessed a higher-for-longer rate outlook and rotated out of stocks. Energy prices rose (Brent above $82/bbl), adding inflationary pressure for import-reliant Asian economies. The selloff’s persistence will depend on upcoming US economic data, Fed signals and developments in US–Iran relations, leaving near-term sentiment cautious to negative.