Asian Stocks Fall Amid Middle East Tensions

On Oct. 7, 2026, Asian stocks fell after U.S. markets hit record highs the day before. South Korea's Kospi dropped 1.98% to 6,803.9, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.9% to 70,035.71, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.6% to 24,130.50. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was roughly flat. China's markets stayed shut for a national holiday, thinning regional volumes. The Reserve Bank of India raised its repo rate 25 basis points to 5.5%. Oil rebounded after Brent had fallen below $100 a barrel and WTI below $90. Traders cut odds of a Fed hike this month to 19% from about 50% a week earlier, with September minutes due the same day. Nvidia's market cap neared $6 trillion. Contested: Vietnam-linked reports attribute increased Strait of Hormuz tanker attacks to Iran; Kalkine cites Iran-backed Houthi groups in Saudi Arabia; the wire leaves the attackers unspecified. The record has no left-rated or center-rated coverage. Fed minutes and further oil-supply reports were next.