China Stocks Retreat Amid US-Iran Woes

The Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2% to 4,098 on Thursday, while the Shenzhen Composite lost 0.4% to 15,117, with both benchmarks retreating after recently hitting a one-month high and a more-than-four-year peak, respectively, as investors grappled with a lack of fresh market catalysts and persistent geopolitical uncertainty. Tensions in the Middle East remained a key overhang, with Iran restricting most international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that its forces fired on commercial vessels on Wednesday, while the US continues to enforce a blockade on ships linked to Iranian ports. Market attention has also turned to the April 27–30 session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, where lawmakers will review draft revisions to the Prison Law and consider other legislative changes. Significant losses were seen in Zijin Mining Group (-2.5%), BYD (-2.2%), Suzhou TFC Optical Communication (-4.6%), and Muyuan Foods (-3%).
S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico Market



