Unyielding Spirit: Iran Protests Fuel Oil Market Turbulence, Impacting Hang Seng Index and CSI 300

Asia-Pacific markets are primed for a higher opening on Monday, buoyed by gains on Wall Street following a U.S. job report that revealed slower job creation for December. Despite the disappointing figures, the unemployment rate dipped, suggesting a resilient labor market.

Investor attention will also be focused on fluctuating oil prices as protests in Iran enter their third week, reportedly resulting in over 500 fatalities, according to a U.S.-based human rights organization. Amid these developments, President Donald Trump is said to be considering options for potential intervention in Iran, with multiple sources reporting on the matter over the weekend.

Brent crude futures saw an increase of 0.84%, reaching $63.87 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.83% to $59.62 as of 7:25 a.m. Singapore time (6:25 p.m. EST Sunday). In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.22%, demonstrating positive momentum within the region’s markets. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is expected to open higher, with futures trading at 26,408, compared to its previous close of 26,231.79. However, Japanese markets remained closed in observance of a holiday.

In the early hours of Asian trading, U.S. equity futures remained relatively stagnant as investors awaited a wave of key economic data and corporate earnings reports scheduled for release throughout the week. On Friday, the S&P 500 concluded with a 0.65% uptick, marking a fresh record closing at 6,966.28, alongside reaching a new all-time intraday high. Additionally, the Nasdaq Composite climbed by 0.81%, closing at 23,671.35, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 237.96 points, or 0.48%, ending at 49,504.07, also achieving a new record close.

As the markets react to these intertwined situations-economic indicators within the U.S. and geopolitical unrest in Iran-investors remain cautious yet optimistic. Overall, the interplay of labor market data and international developments is shaping a complex landscape for traders as they navigate potential opportunities and risks.

– Contributions from CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Pia Singh were integral to this report.

Categories: Finance, Economy, International News
Tags: Asia-Pacific Markets, Oil Prices, U.S. Jobs Report, Iran Protests, Stock Market

Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/12/asia-pacific-markets-crude-wti-oil-iran-protests-hang-seng-index-csi-300-kospi.html
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Publish Date: 2026-01-12 05:25:00