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European stocks fall, Asia-Pacific markets rise as investors assess renewed Middle East hostilities

19 h ago

Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange on Sept. 2, 2026. NYSEEuropean stocks traded lower on Monday as Asia-Pacific markets broadly rose, with investor attention focused on the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war. Europe's main Stoxx 600 benchmark dipped almost 0.1% in morning trade, with Germany's DAX leading losses, sliding 0.14%. The U.K. FTSE 100 fell 0.12%, while France's CAC 40 lost 0.06%. The Italian FTSE MIB gained 0.37%.In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 2.12% higher, while South Korea's Kospi rose 4.61%. Mainland China's CSI 300 gained 0.59%. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose marginally higher.Middle East turmoil persisted, with the U.S. striking three Iranian oil tankers over the weekend and Centcom saying Tehran had targeted its warships with ballistic missiles. Diminishing hopes for a deal with Iran, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said Sunday that the Iran nuclear deal may not happen anytime soon. "There may not be a nuclear agreement. It may be simply destroying their capabilities to do it," Wright said on ABC News' "This Week." "An agreement may await the next administration in Iran. We simply don't know that."Preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon has repeatedly been cited by President Donald Trump as a key objective of the U.S. campaign. At the same time, Trump has continued to pursue a diplomatic agreement with Tehran during the war, which has driven energy prices sharply higher around the world.Wright's remarks indicate that the administration could seek to eliminate Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon even without securing a formal agreement with Tehran.U.S. stock markets will be closed on Monday due to a holiday.