Press TV quoted an Arab diplomat saying regional states view US President Trump’s "reckless" decisions and "condescending" posture as eroding trust in Washington. The diplomat said they believe the US has not only failed militarily against Iran but also lacks the ability and confidence to secure diplomatic understandings with Tehran, prompting some countries to pursue urgent bilateral negotiations with Iran rather than rely on US decision-making.

Japanese automakers face a double shock from the Iran conflict and a strengthening yen that could reverse recent currency-driven gains, analysts say. Toyota and Honda have raised full-year guidance and Nissan returned to profit after two years on a weak yen, but Morningstar senior analyst Vincent Sun warns yen appreciation will force firms to choose between overseas price hikes that risk market share or margin compression from currency translation. Bernstein estimates a 1% yen appreciation typically cuts Japanese carmakers' operating profit by about 2%, with some firms seeing up to a 4% hit. Continued Middle East conflict could push up costs for napatha, resins, aluminium, copper, steel and chips and raise shipping risks through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, further squeezing margins and earnings outlooks.

港股收盤，恆指收漲1.34%，科指收漲1.58%。光通信、芯片股走強，長飛光纖光纜(06869.HK)漲12%，中際旭創(03308.HK)漲8.2%，華虹宏力(01347.HK)漲7.45%。