Summary:**Asian stocks tumble amid oil surge following Gulf region attacks** *SYDNEY, July 13* – Share mark
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**Asian stocks tumble amid oil surge following Gulf region attacks**
*SYDNEY, July 13* – Share markets across Asia slipped on Monday as hostilities flared in the Gulf and Iran announced it had shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The move sent crude prices higher, revived inflation worries worldwide and lifted the U.S. dollar while pushing bond yields upward.
### Introduction
Investors reacted swiftly to the escalation, with major indices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Sydney posting losses of between 0.8% and 1.5%. The sell‑off reflected concerns that a prolonged disruption to oil flows could strain global supply chains and force central banks to maintain tighter monetary policies longer than anticipated.
### Key Developments
- **Oil price jump:** Brent crude rose above $92 a barrel, its highest level in three months, after Tehran claimed control of the Hormuz chokepoint, through which roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil passes.
- **Currency moves:** The dollar index gained 0.4% as traders sought haven assets, while the Japanese yen and Australian dollar weakened against the greenback.
- **Bond market:** U.S. 10‑year Treasury yields climbed to 4.35%, reflecting expectations that higher energy costs could keep inflation sticky and delay any rate‑cut cycle.
- **Regional impact:** Energy‑heavy markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia saw sharper declines, whereas export‑oriented economies like South Korea and Taiwan suffered from fears of reduced demand amid higher input costs.
### Industry Analysis
Analysts note that the immediate shock to oil markets is amplifying existing inflationary pressures that have already been driven by post‑pandemic demand rebounds and supply‑side bottlenecks. A sustained closure of Hormuz would not only lift fuel prices but also increase freight