Asian stock markets dominated by red

Japan’s Nikkei led losses in Asian markets after news of Israel conducting an operation in Iran. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index led losses in Asia on Friday, falling 3.3 percent, while the broad-based Topix fell 2.78 percent, leading most other major Asian markets. The losses came after a person familiar with the matter told NBC News that Israel had conducted an operation in Iran. Stocks and riskier assets fell, while safe havens rose. Gold hit an all-time high as the Japanese yen strengthened and Bitcoin fell. Oil prices rose more than 3 percent, with global benchmark Brent crude futures exceeding $90 a barrel. U.S. stock futures fell more than 1 percent. Japan released March inflation data on Friday, with the headline inflation rate falling to 2.7 percent from 2.8 percent in February. The core inflation rate, which excludes fresh food prices, came in at 2.6 percent, in line with economists’ expectations. South Korea’s Kospi index lost 2.83 percent after leading gains in Asia on Thursday, while the small-cap Kosdaq fell 3.25 percent. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.59 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.49 percent, while China’s CSI 300 index lost 0.68 percent.