Asian Markets Fall Monday 2026: Nikkei, ASX, Hang Seng Drop as Oil Hits $110 and Iran Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread

# Asian Markets Fall Monday 2026: Nikkei, ASX, Hang Seng Drop as Oil Hits $110 and Iran Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread

> **Quick answer:** Asian markets fell across the board on Monday May 18, 2026, as Brent crude surged past $110 per barrel following a drone strike on the UAE's Barakah nuclear plant and Trump's renewed warnings that the Iran ceasefire could collapse at any moment. The Nikkei lost 0.2%, the ASX 200 dropped 0.76%, and Hang Seng futures slid roughly 229 points. European markets are opening into the same headwinds. The US session adds the Musk v. Altman jury, mid-week Nvidia earnings, and Meta's 8,000-job cut to an already volatile week.

Asian markets fell Monday morning as the Iran ceasefire situation deteriorated overnight, sending oil prices to their highest levels in weeks. A drone strike on the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant late Sunday, combined with sharp fresh warnings from President Trump, made investors across Asia rush for the exit — and left Europe and Wall Street staring down an unusually loaded week.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personal financial decisions.

## What Happened Overnight: Market-by-Market

The session was broadly negative across Asia-Pacific, with energy and trade-exposed names leading losses: