Oil Price Surge Sparks Inflation Fears in Asian Stocks
Asian stocks are set to decline Thursday as oil prices surge and Treasury yields climb, fueling inflation concerns ahead of key US price data.
The S&P 500 Index fell 0.5%, led by industrial and consumer-discretionary shares, while the Nasdaq 100 Index dropped 0.3% with Nvidia Corp., Amazon.com Inc., and Alphabet Inc. declining.
US oil rose above $97 a barrel after Brent settled above $101 as escalating Middle East tensions raised concerns about energy supplies, adding to expectations that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates to contain inflation.
The combination of higher oil prices and rising bond yields leaves markets particularly sensitive to Friday's US inflation report, which may determine whether the Fed raises rates this month. A stronger-than-expected reading could reinforce bets on further tightening and put additional pressure on stocks and bonds, while softer data could revive expectations that policymakers will remain on hold.