Asian Markets Slip as Investors Weigh Tech Earnings and Gulf Tensions

Asian stock markets struggled in early trading Thursday, with the MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan falling 0.2%, on track for a fourth consecutive weekly decline. Japan's Nikkei closed down 0.4%, and Korean shares fell over 1%, while S&P 500 futures slipped 0.4%. Strong earnings from SpaceX, Meta, and AI server maker Super Micro failed to lift markets, as Meta's plan to issue non-voting Class C shares reignited concerns about AI spending. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields fell to 5.1065%, and Brent crude rose 1.1% to $110.03 per barrel. Geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment, with the U.S. ordering diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia and reports of U.S.-Israeli plans for further strikes on Iran. The dollar index eased to 102.2, while gold slipped to $4,115.5 per ounce and bitcoin fell 0.4% to $84,284.