Middle East geopolitical conflicts affecting Asia: Risk aversion sentiment shrouds Tokyo, Nikkei index plunges at opening.

It was noted that the early trading session of the Tokyo stock market went down due to the increase in risk aversion and oil prices following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. As of press time, the Nikkei 225 index fell by 1.8% and the broader-based Topix index dropped by 2.2%. Exporter sectors such as automobile and electronics manufacturers were the main factors leading to the overall decline in the market, and banking stocks also showed weakness. Oil producers and shipping companies rose against the trend as Brent crude oil surged more than 13% and broke through $82 per barrel. With investors fleeing risky assets, the stock market may come under pressure on Monday. Industries sensitive to oil prices, such as rubber products and automobile manufacturing, may suffer the most. Nobuhiko Kuramochi, deputy director of the Parasol Institute, stated that the Japanese stock market appears particularly vulnerable due to Japan's "high dependence on Middle East oil." Warehouse Holdings pointed out that sectors such as aviation, maritime shipping, and land transportation may face selling pressure due to the rise in oil prices, while defensive stocks may provide some support. Arifumi Yoshida, an analyst at Citigroup, wrote in a report that Japanese automotive component suppliers (such as tire manufacturers) are facing negative profit risks due to the "significant increase in oil prices," which could drag down their stock prices. The share prices of tire manufacturers Sumitomo Rubber Industries and Toyo Tire both fell by more than 5%.