Asian shares fell sharply on Friday as renewed tensions in the Middle East, oil prices near $100 a barrel and a technology-led Wall Street sell-off weakened risk appetite. European markets opened more steadily, while the early African picture remained cautious and fragmented as several exchanges had not yet established a clear direction.
Asian technology shares lead losses
Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped approximately 2.7% to around 64,600, with technology companies among the main decliners. South Korea’s Kospi suffered heavier losses as investors reduced exposure to semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell about 1.4%, while mainland China’s Shanghai Composite declined by a similar margin. Indian shares also opened lower after futures had indicated a negative start.
Oil and tariffs unsettle investors
The Asian retreat followed steep overnight losses for major US technology companies, including Tesla and Alphabet. Concerns about the scale of investment in artificial intelligence added to wider doubts about highly valued technology shares. Sentiment was further weakened by new US tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on imports from dozens of trading partners.
European markets attempt a recovery
European shares opened mixed but generally steadier after Thursday’s broad decline. The STOXX Europe 600 gained approximately 0.3% in early trading, while Germany’s DAX advanced about 0.6%. London’s FTSE 100 traded close to unchanged and France’s CAC 40 remained marginally lower. The cautious recovery suggested that investors were willing to buy selected shares after the previous session’s losses, although confidence remained fragile.
African opening offers a limited signal
In Africa, Johannesburg opened against a weak global background after the FTSE/JSE All Share Index had fallen 1.2% on Thursday. Early attention centred on energy and mining companies, which could benefit from stronger commodity prices, while banks and consumer-facing shares remained exposed to inflation and interest-rate concerns. The rand traded near R16.82 against the dollar. Cairo was closed for the Friday weekend, while several other African markets had not produced a clear opening trend at the time of the snapshot.
Energy shock creates regional differences
Brent crude hovered around $100 a barrel following attacks on tankers in the Red Sea and concerns about disruption to major shipping routes. Higher oil prices can support energy producers and resource-heavy indices, including parts of the London and Johannesburg markets. However, they also increase transport, manufacturing and household costs, creating renewed inflation risks for energy-importing economies.
Markets remain sensitive to headlines
Friday’s opening showed a clear regional divide: Asia remained firmly risk-off, Europe attempted a selective rebound and Africa faced competing signals from stronger commodities and weaker global sentiment. Investors are likely to remain focused on oil prices, Middle East developments, tariff policy and whether the technology sell-off spreads into the broader market.
Newshub Editorial in Asia, Africa and Europe – 24 July 2026
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