- Financial markets globally experienced sharp declines as the Middle East conflict entered its fourth week, with focus on Iran's control over key energy shipping routes.
- Brent crude oil prices rose by 1 per cent to nearly 114 US dollars a barrel amid escalating tensions, while gold slipped 4.35 per cent to $4,300 an ounce.
- Iran warned it would strike electrical plants across the Middle East if US president Donald Trump followed through on threats to bomb power stations in the Islamic Republic.
- London's FTSE 100 Index fell 1.6 per cent to 9756.8, dropping below the 10,000 mark for the first time since early January.
- European markets, including Germany's Dax and France's Cac 40, also saw significant falls, mirroring heavy declines in Asian markets like Japan's Nikkei.
IN FULL
