Overview
- Asian equities snapped back after steep losses, led by South Korea’s KOSPI surge of about 10–12% as authorities activated a $68 billion market stabilisation fund.
- Brent traded near $83–84 a barrel and WTI around $76 as supply risks persisted despite OPEC+ outlining a 206,000 bpd output increase for April.
- Ship-tracking showed the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, with transits down about 90% and roughly 300 tankers stuck, while insurers restricted cover and Maersk suspended Gulf bookings.
- U.S. policy signals helped calm nerves, with President Trump pledging naval escorts and insurance support for tankers after the Senate blocked a bid to limit the air campaign.
- India’s markets and currency showed strain from the energy shock—the Sensex slipped below 80,000 and the rupee topped 92 earlier this week—though domestic equities opened higher on Thursday.